The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. THus far of the subject of application. The manner of it followes.

2. The manner of applying consists in those things which are meanes of the spirit applying Christ with all his benefits to us for our salvation.

3. The which spirit it selfe doth apply all saving things unto us, internally and most neerely, and so in his manner immediatly, neither is any externall meanes capable properly of that vertue whereby grace may be really communicated to us: Therefore though those doe morally concurre and operate in the preparation of man to receive thie grace, yet they doe not properly confer the grace by themselves, but the spirit which worketh together with them. 1 Cor. 3. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth: but God who giveth power to increase.

4. The two principall meanes of this sort are the Ministry and the holy Signes: unto which notwithstanding there is necessarily too bee joyned some Ecclesiasticall Discipline.

5. The Ministry is an Ecclesiasticall function whereby a man being chosen out doth dispense holy things of speciall right. 2 Cor. 4. 1. We have this Ministery, as we have obtained mercy, 1 Cor 1. 2. Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ, and dispensers of the Mysteries of God.

6. It is called a Ministry, because that power which is committed to Ecclesiasticall men, is a power of doing onely by the command of Christ, and meere obedience toward him. 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2.

7. A spirituall or regall power of government whereby one worketh of his owne liberty and will, is not belonging to men, but to Christ alone.

8. Hence a Minister of the Church is bound to execute his office by himselfe, as one that hath not power to appoint any vicar in his place, for this should not be an action of obedience, but of command.

9. Therefore one that is a constant Minister of divers Churches which are necessarily to be provided for by Vicars, is not of Gods Ordaining, but of mans ambition and presumption.

10. The power is not absolute, but relative, that is, it doth not consist in an absolute power to doe any thing, but in a right, whereby one hath power to doe that rightly and lawfully which he might not before so doe, and therefore it is Potestas juris, a power of right.

11. But it is of speciall right: because it respects some speciall duties unlawfull to others, and it doth undertake some common duties in a certaine special manner.¹¹⁵

12. The right of the Ministery depends upon calling, Heb. 5. 4. Neither doth any take this honour to himselfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aron.

13. A calling is an action whereby an office is committed to any with authority to Minister.

14. Therefore they are very ridiculous who doe so ordaine the calling of Ministers, that they give them not power to preach the word, unlesse they have some new grant.

15. A necessary adjunct of a calling is fitnesse to the Ministery.

16. Hence those who are altogether unfit to fulfill the Ministery, if they be called to it by men, are the Ministers of men, not of God. Hos. 4. 6. Because thou hast despised knowledge, I will also despise thee, that thou shalt not be a Priest unto mee.

17. This fitnesse ariseth from a fit measure of gifts, and a ready wil to undertake and execute the office.

18. From the Ministery there ariseth a third, staet of the Church: for as by Faith it had its essentiall state, and by a combination its integrall state: so also by the Ministery it hath a certaine organicall state: because it is now made fit to exercise all those operations which pertaine to the good of the whole.

19. The course and direction of these operations, is Ecclesiasticall polity.¹¹⁶

20. The forme of this polity is altogether monarchicall in respect of Christ, the head and King; but as toching the visible and vicarious administration, it is of a mixt nature; partly as it were aristocraticall, and partly as it were democraticall.

21. Hence in the lawfull Ministery of the Church, Hierarchy holy principality hath no place, but rather Hieroduly, or holy Service.

22. Therefore one Minister is not subjected unto the power of another in his dispensation, but all doe immediatly depend on Christ: as those Angells which are inferiors in office to others, are immediatly subject unto God, not to other Angels.

23. This Ministery is either extraordinary or ordinary.

24. Extraordinary Ministry is that which hath a certaine higher, and more perfect direction then can be attained to by ordinary meanes.

25. Hence such Ministers have alwayes gifts and assistance extraordinary, so that they doe Minister without error.

26. The right of an extraordinary Minister is bestowed properly neither from man, nor by man, but from God alone by Jesus Christ and the holy Spirit. Gal. 1. 1.

27. Hence the calling to such a Ministery is immediate.¹¹⁷

28. Yet every etraordinary calling, is not so immediate that it excludes all Ministery of men; as appeares in the calling of Eliseus, and Matthias; but it excludes onely that Ministery which is destitute of an infallible direction.

29. This extrordinary Ministery was very necessary for the Church, because that will of God which pertaines unto living well to God, could not be found out by humane industry and ordinary meanes, as all other Arts and Sciences, but it did require men stirred up and sent by God, to whom he hath manifested his will, that they might be to us in stead of God hemselfe. Exod. 4. 15, 16. And be thou to him instead of GOD.

30. God hath revealed his will to these extraordinary Ministers. 1. By lively voyce. Reg. 1. 10. Unto which was often added an apparition and speaking to of an Angell or Christ himselfe, as of the Angel of his covenant. 2. By vision, whereby together with the word the Species of the things to be declared were represented to their eyes waking. 3. By dreames whereby such like things propounded to the minds of them being a sleepe. 4. Sometime also by a certaine speciall familiarity as it were mouth to mouth, without parable, Numb. 12. 6, 7, 8. If there be a Prophet among you, I will make my selfe Iehova knowne to him in a vision, and will speake to him in a dreame. My servant Moses is not so: with him I speake mouth to mouth even apparently, and not in darke speeches, and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold.

31. The manner of this revelation was so powerfull, that its dis draw men oftentimes into an extasie or trance, whereby they were so caught above themselves, that they perceived nothing beside that that was propounded, neither all that thing it selfe according to all its circumstances, 2 Cor. 13. 3. 4.

32. Yet it is so certaine, that the divine truth of it is often confirmed, and in a certaine speciall manner sealed to them to whom it is revealed: so as it need not another confirmation. Gal. 1. 17. & 2. 6. Neither did I returne to those who were Apostles before me. They who were in estimation added nothing to mee: Although sometimes also for the more abundant confirmation miracles are added. Iudge 6. 36. 37. 38.

33. This extraordinary Ministery is either for the first instituting of a Church, or, for the speciall and extraordinary conservation of a Church, or finally for the extraordinary restoring of a Church being fallen.

34. The Ministery of instituting a Church hath alwayes a testimony of miracles joyned with it: Heb. 2, 3, 4. Which at first began to be spoken, &c. God also bearing them witnesse, with signes and wonders, and with divers miracles, & gifts of the holy Ghost according to his will.

35. Yet miracles doe not so give testimony to the doctrine of any, as that it may bee presently believed. For that doctrine which doth not consent with the knowne will of God ought not to be admitted, although it seeme to be confirmed with miracles. Deut. 13. 1, 2, 3. Although that signe or wonder come to passe which he soretold thee, saying, Let us goe follow other Gods. Harken not to the word of that Prophet. Gal. 1. 8. Though wee or an Angell from Heaven, preach another Gospell beside that we have preached, let him be accursed.

36. The Ministery of conserving, & restoring a Church, although it be extraordinary, and is alwayes confirmed by miracles, yet it doth not alwayes or necessarily require a testimony of miracles: as appeares in many in the old Testament, and in John the Baptist.

37. Extraordinary Ministers were Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists.

38. Wicliffe, Luther, Zwinglius, and such like, that were the first restorers of the Gospell, were not to speake properly, extraordinary Ministers.

39. Yet they are not amisse called extraordinary by some. 1. Because they did performe something like those things which were done by extraordinary Ministers of old. 2. Because in respect of degree they received some singular gifts from God, as occasion did require: which also may be affirmed of many among the more famous Martyrs. 3. Because order at that time being disturbed and decayed, they were of necessity to attempt some things out of the common course.

40. It is therefore ridiculous, to require miracles of those men, to confirme that doctrine which they propounded; seeing such an attestation is not necessary, no notin all extraordinary Ministers.