The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. Faith is a resting of the heart on God; as on the author of life and eternall salvation: that is to say, that by him we may be freed from all evill, and obtaine all good, Esa. 10. 20. Let him leane upon Iehova the holy one of Israel in Faith. Psal. 37. 5. Rolle thy way upon Iehova, and trust in him, Ierem. 17. 7. Blessed is the man who trusteth in Iehova, and whose confidence Iehova is.

2. To believe commonly signifies an act of the understanding yeelding assent to testimony: but because the will is wont to be moved thereupon, and to stretch forth it selfe to embrace the good. so allowed, therefore Faith doth aptly enough set forth this act of the will also, in which manner it is necessarily understood in this place. For it is a receiving, John 1. 12. As many as received him—who believe.

3. Hence Faith is caried unto that good which by it is made ours, is an act of election, an act of the whole man, which things doe in no wise agree to an act of the understanding. John 6. 35. He that commeth to me, he that believeth in mee.

4. Therefore although Faith alwayes presuppose a knowledge of the Gospell, yet there is no saving knowledge in any, (and which differs from that which is found in some that shall not be saved) but what followes this act of the will, and depends upon it. John 7. 17. & 8. 31. 32. 1. John 2. 3.

5. That truly Christian Faith which hath place in the understanding doth alwayes leane upon a Divine testimony, as it in Divine: yet this testimony cannot be received without a pious affection of the will towards God. John 3. 33. He that receiveth his testimony, hath sealed⁶ that God is true, Rom. 4. 20. He was strengthened in Faith, giving glory to God.

6. Neither yet because it is grounded only upon a testimony, is it the more uncertaine and doubtfull: but more certaine in its own nature then any humane science,⁷ because it is caried to its object under a formall respect of infallibility: although by reason of the imperfection of the habit whence Faith flowes, the assent of Faith in this or that subject oft-times appeares, weaker then the assent of science.

7. Now God is the object of Faith, not as he is considered in himselfe, but as we by him doe live well. 1. Tim 4. 10. We hope in the living God, who is the preserver of all men, especially of those that believe.

8. Christ as Redeemer is the mediate object of Faith, but not the highest, for we believe in God through Christ. Rom. 6. 11: to live to God by Christ. 2. Cor. 3. 4. we have trust through Christ to God-ward, 1. Pet. 1. 21. Through him believing in God.

9. The sentences in the Scriptures or promises, doe containe and present an object of Faith, and they are called the object of Faith by a Metonimy of the adjunct.⁸ The good which is propounded to be obtained, as it is such, is the end and effect of Faith, not properly the object it selfe.

But that, upon whose power we rest, in the obtaining of that good, is the proper object of Faith. 1. Cor. 1. 23. We preach Christ, and 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you but Iesus Christ, 2. Cor. 5. 19. God in Christ.

10. With this Divine Faith, which looketh to the will of Cod and our own salvation, we must not simply believe any man, but God above, Rom. 3. 4. Every man is a lyar, 1. Cor. 2, 5. that your faith consist not in the wisdome of men.

11. Therefore the Authority of God is the proper and immediate ground of all truth in this manner to be believed: whence is that solemne speech of the Prophets every where, the Word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord.

12. Hence, the last resolution⁹ of Faith as it sets forth a thing to be believed, is into the authority of God, or Divine revelation. 2. Pet. 1. 20, 21. If ye first know this, that no prophety of Scripture is of private interpretation, &c. John 2. 29. We know that God spake to Moses; As the last resolution of it as it notes the act of believing, is into the operation, and inward perswasion of the Holy Spirit, 1. Cor. 12. 3. 11. That none can call Iesus Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.

13. This Faith whereby we believe not only a God, or give credit to God, but believe in God, is true and proper confidence: not as by this word is set forth a certaine and absolute perswasion of good to come, but as it signifies chusing and apprehending of a sufficient, and fit meanes, and such wherein such a perswasion, and expectation is founded. In which sence men are said to put confidence in their wisdome, power, friends and riches. Psa. 78. 2. They believed not in God nor trusted in his salvation.

14. This is every where declared in those phrases of Scripture, wherein the true nature of solid Faith is unfolded, To lean upon, as Isay 10. 20. andPro. 3. 5. &Isa. 50. 10. Pro. 3. 5. Isa. 50. 10. Psal. 71. 6. . Rom. 10. 11.

15. Therefore to beleeve in God, is in believing to cleave to God, to leane on God, to rest in God as in our all-sufficient life and salvation. Deut. 30, 20. by cleaving to him, for he is thy life.

16. Hence that generall assent, which the Papists make to be Faith, is not Faith, because by their own consession, it may be without any life, Iames 2, 17.

17. But that speciall assent whereby we resolve that God is our God in Christ, is not the first act of Faith, but an act flowing from Faith: for there is no greater certainty of this truth in thee then in another, nor a truer apprehension of it in thee then another, before thou hast specially applied thy selfe to God by Faith, Rom. 5. 1, 2. Being justified by Faith, we have peace toward God, we glory in God.

18. Seeing also that Faith is the first act of life, whereby we live to God, in Christ it must needs consist in union with God, which an assent given to the truth concerning God can in no wise doe.

19. Further also, seeing he that is about to believe out of a sense of his misery, and defect¹⁰ of any deliverance, either in himselfe, or in others, must needs cast himselfe upon God in Christ, as a sufficient, and faithfull Saviour, he cannot in any measure so cast himselfe by an assent of the understanding, but by a consent of the will.

20. Although in Scriptures sometimes an assent to the truth which is touching God and Christ, John 1. 50. is accounted for true Faith, yet there is a speciall confidence alwayes included: and so in all places where there is speech of saving faith, either a confidence in the Messiah is presupposed, and there is only declared a determination, or application of it to the person of Christ: or by that assent confidence is set forth as an effect by its cause, John 11. 25, 26. He that believes in me shall live: believest thou this? He saith, yea Lord, I believe that thou art that Christ, that Son of God who should come into the world.

21. But whereas confidence is said to be a fruit of Faith, it is true of confidence, as it respecteth God, for that that is to come, and it is a firme hope: but as it respects God in Christ, offering himselfe in present, it is Faith it selfe; Hence arise those titles which the Scripture gives to saving Faith, that it is , Perswasion, boldnesse. 2. Cor. 3, 4. & 5, 6, 7, 8. Eph. 3, 12. 1. Pct. 1. 13. 1. John 5. 13, 14. a full perswasion. Romans 4. 21. Col. 2. 2. the substance, Heb. 11. 1.

22. Now whereas true Faith is of some placed partly in the understanding, and partly in the will, that is not so accurately spoken, because it is one single vertue, and doth bring forth acts of the same kinde, not partly of Science, and partly of affections. 1. Cor. 13, 13. But that solid assent yeelded to the promises of the Gospel is called Faith; and confidence, partly because it begetteth Faith as it is a generall assent: partly because it flowes from that confidence as it is a speciall and solid assent apprehending the actuall possession of grace already obtained. For so it rests upon confidence of the heart, as a meane, or third argument, by force whereof such a conclusion onely can be inferred. E. G. He that beleeveth, I am sure he shall be saved. Experience also teacheth that that particular assurance of the understanding is wanting in some, for a time, who notwithstanding have true Faith lying hid in their hearts.