The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. There are two parts of Divinity, Faith and observance. 2. Tim. 1. 13. Hold the expresse forme of wholesome words, which thou hast heard of mee with faith and love. 1. Tim. 1. 19. Having faith and a good conscience. Psal.37. 3. Trust in the Lord and doe good. Of those parts did the Divinity of Paul consist, Acts 24. 14, 15, 16. I believe all things that are written, and have hope in God: I exercise myselfe to have a conscience void of offence: the same were the parts of Abrahams divinity, Gen. 15. 6. & 17. 1. Abraham believed Iehova: walke before me continually and be perfect. The same doth Christ require of his Disciples, when besides faith he requires that they observe all things that he hath commanded, Mat. 28. 20. The same doth Paul handle, in the Epist. to the Rom. wherein tis manifest that the summe of Divinity is contained. Finally, he would that the same should be taught in the Churches, Tit. 3. 8. these things I will that thou affirme, that they that have believed God, might be carefull to goe before in well doing.

2. A property of this distribution (which is required in a genuine distribution of every art) is, that it flouwes from the nature of the object. For seeing the beginning and first act of spirituall life, (which is the proper object of Divinity) is faith, and the second act or operation flowing from that principle is observance, it necessarily followes that those two are the genuine parts of Divinity, neither is there any other to be sought for.

3. In the old Testament (fitly for that legall and servile estate) Divinity seemes sometime to be divided into the feare of God and observing of his Commandements, according to that Eccles. 12. 15. The summe of all is, feare God, and keepe his Commandements, for this is the whole duty of man. But by a metonymie faith is included on the former part, as appeares out of Pro. 3. 5. 7. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: feare the Lord, and depart from evill.

4. These two parts in use indeed and exercise are alwayes joyned together, yet in nature and precepts then are distinguished.

5. They are also so distinguished in order of nature, that faith holds the first place, and spirituall obedience the latter: for there can be no vitall actions brought forth, unlesse a principle of life be first begotten within.⁵