The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. OBservance is that whereby the Will of God is performed with subjection to his glory.

2. It respects the Will of God as a patterne, and a rule, as appeares by the those words of Christ, wherein also he describes our obdience; let thy Will be done as in Heaven, so also in Earth; and did also explaine his own obedience, Mat. 26. 29. Not as I will, but as thou wilt, and Verse 42. Let thy will be done, so Psalm. 40, 9. I delight to doe thy will, O my God: and thy Law is written in my bowells.

3. But it respects the Will of God not as it is secret, and powerfully effectuall, or ordaining: for so even all other Creatures and ungodly men, and the very Devills also themselves doe performe the Will of God, with that obedientiall vertue which is common to all Creatures: but it respects that Will of God which prescribes our duty to us. Deut. 29. 29. Things that are revealed, are revealed, that wee may doe them.

4. It respects that will with subjection. Rom. 8. 7. Because it applies our will to fulfill the Will of God, as it commands us any thing according to his authority. Rom. 8. 7. It is not subject to the Law of God.

5. Hence it is called obedience: because it makes the will ready to commit the command of God to execution, being heard, and in some measure perceived.

6. Hence also it hath in it selfe some respect of Service toward God; whence it comes to passe, that to obey God, and to serve him, sound one and the some thing. Luc. 1. 74. Rom. 6. 16. And to serve God is altogether the same with serving of obedience and righteousnesse. There Verse 16. 18. 22. Because that to doe the Will of God with subjection, is to serve God. Eph. 6. 6. 7. As servants of Christ, doing the Will of the Lord from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord.

7. For our obedience toward God, although in respect of readinesse of mind it ought to be the obedience of sons: yet in respect of that strict obligation to subjection, it is the obedience of servants.

8. From this subjection to the Will of God, there doth necessarily follow a conformity betwixt the Will of God and ours. Rev. 2. 6. This thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. And a certaine expresse resemblance of that Divine perfection which God hath revealed and propounded to be imitated by us. 2 Pet. 1. 4. That we might be made partakers of the Divine nature, for he that doth truth, his workes are said to be done according to God. John. 3. 2.

9. Hence the same obdience which is called obedience, because it respects the Will of God with subjection; and righteousnesse, because it performes that subjection which is due; is also called holinesse because it respects the same will with conformity and pure likenesse. 1 Pet. 1. 14. 15. As obedient children—as he that hath called you is holy, be ye also holy in all manner conversation.

10. Obedience lookes to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Doe all to the glory of God: as it doth acknowledge his chiefe authority and power in commanding. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Yee are bought with a price: therefore glorifie God, &c. And also as it hath in part relation to, and doth represent the perfection of God. 1. Pet. 2. 9. That yee may set forth his vertues, in the manifestation of which things consists that glory which may be given to him of us.

11. Also in this subjection there is a respect of feare, as the Authority and Power of God is acknowledged: whence also the feare of the Lord is in Scripture often that for whole obedience. Psalme 34. 12. I will teach you the feare of the Lord.

12. It is therefore said to be toward God, both as God is the Rule of it, and as hee is the Object of it, and also as hee is the End.

13. The principall efficient cause of it by way of an inward and inherent principle, is mediatly Faith, and immediatly sanctifying Grace.

14. For Faith doth both prepare a way for us to God. Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw nigh by assurance of Faith, and Power to goe to him. 2 Cor. 1. 24. By Faith yee stand, whence obedience is called the obedience of faith. Rom. 1. 5. And the faithfull are called the children of obedience, 1 Pet. 1. 14.¹⁵⁴

15. Now Faith doth bring forth obedience in a threefold respect. 1. As it doth apprehend Christ who is the Fountaine of Life, and the Spring of all power to doe well, and 2. As it receives and rests in those arguments, which God hath propounded to us in Scripture to perswade obedience, namely by promises and threatnings. 3. As it hath power to obtaine all grace, and so that grace whereby obedience is performed.

16. But sanctifying grace is that very power whereby we are lifted up, to apply our will to the will of God. Whence also new obedience is alwayes included and understood, in Scripture, when there is mention made of the new man, and the new creature. Eph. 4. 24. Gal. 6. 15.

17. For nothing can be performed by man, since sinne is entred, acceptable to God, as it comes from him, or as a worke of spirituall life: unlesse, it be performed in Christ by Faith and the grace of sanctification. John 15. 4, 5. Without mee yee can doe nothing.

18. Yet these duties are not therefore to be omitted by a man that doth not yet believe; because they are in themselves good, they hinder the increase of sinne and punishments of sinners, nay they are often reconpensed with divers benefits from God, although by force of any determined Law, but by a certaine abundant and secret kindnesse of him.

19. The adjuvant cause by moving is. 1. The dignity and majesty of God in it selfe to be observed. Deut. 31. 3. Ascribe yee greatnesse to our God. Psal. 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory of his name. 2. The kindnesse of God toward us, in which respect we owe to him whatsoever is in us. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Know yee not that yee are not your owne—which are Gods. Rom. 12. By the mercy of God, whence also it is, that our obedience is nothing else then thankfulnesse due to God, and it is rightly explained by Divines under that name. 3. The authority of God commanding, which hath universall and full dominion over us, Iames 4. 22. There is one Law-giver who can save and destroy. 4. The equity and profit of the things commanded, which doe both agree with greatest reason, Rom. 2. 15. Their conscience together bearing witnesse, and also pertaine to our perfection and blessednesse. Deut. 32. 47. It is your Life. 5. The reward and promises by which obedience is perswaded. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Seeing we have these promises, let us purge our selves, &c. 6. The misery which they that doe otherwise doe incurre, Deut. 28. 16. Heb. 12. 26. Cursed shalt thou be. For our God is a consuming fire.

20. The matter of obedience is that very thing which is commanded by God, and so is summarily contained in the Decalogue: for otherwise the Law of God should not be perfect.¹⁵⁵

21. Therefore the Law of God altough in respect of the faithfull ithee as it were¹⁵⁶ abrogated, both in respect of the power of justifying which it bad in the state of integrity,¹⁵⁷ and in respect of the condemning power which it had in the state of sinne: yet it hath force and vigor, in respect of power to direct, and some power also it doth retaine of condemning, because it reproves, and condemnes sinne in the faithfull themselves, although it cannot wholy condemne the faithfull themselves, who are not under the Law, but under Grace.

22. The forme of obedience is our conformity to the Will of God, therefore revealed, that it may be fulfilled by us Mich. 6. 8. He hath seen O man, what is good.

23. For neither is the secret Will of God, the rule of our obedience, nor all his revealed will, for Ieroboam sinned in taking the Kingdome of Israel, although the Prophet told him that God did in some sort will it. 1 Kings 11. 31. with 2 Chron. 13. 5, 6, 7. But that revealed will, which prescribeth our duty is therefore revealed that it may be fulfilled by us.

24. But this Will of God in this very respect, is said to be good, perfect and acceptable to God. Rom. 12. 2. Good, because it containes in it selfe all respect of that which is honest: perfect, because there is nothing to be sought further for the instruction of life: acceptable to God, because obedience performed to this will, is approved and crowned of GOD.

25. The knowledge of this will is necessary to true obedience. Prov. 4. 13. Take hold of instruction, and let her not goe: keepe her, for shee is thy life, and Verse 19. The way of the wicked is darkenesse, they know not at what they stumble.

Therefore the disire of knowing this will of God is commanded to us, together with obedience it selfe. Prov. 5. 1. 2. Attend to wisdom, incline thine eare to understanding: whereof a great part also is, when it respects practise, as on the contrary, all ignorance of those things which we are bound to know and doe, is sinne. 2 Thess. 1. 8. Rendring vengeance to those that know not God, and obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ.

26. With knowledge of the will of God in this life, there ought to be joyned a trembling and feare to transgresse it. Pro. 8. 12. 13. & 14. 16. I wisdome, have with me the feare of the Lord. The wise man feareth and departh for evill. Chiefly indeed in respect of offence: but also in respect of the anger and punishment most of all as it separates from God. Neither ought such feare to be called servile, when it respects not punishment only.

27. The chiefe end is Gods glory; for we tend unto him by obedience, upon whom we leane by Faith: otherwise obedience should not flow from Faith. Seeing also that Faith is our life, as it doth joyne us to God in Christ, it is necessary that the actions of the same Faith, which are contained in the obedience, should bee caried also to God, that is, to his Glory.

28. The lesse principall end is our own salvation and blessednesse. Rom. 6. 22. Being made servants to God, yee have your fruit in holinesse, and the end eternall life. Heb. 1. 2. 2. For the joy that was set before him he endured the Crosse.

29. For although that obedience which performed onely for feare of punishment or expectation of reward, is rightly called mercenary: yet that any should be secondarily stirred up to doe his duty, by looking on the reward, or for feare of punishment also, this is not strange from the Sonnes of God, neither doth it in any part weaken their solid obedience.

30. But our obedience is not the principall or meritorious cause of life eternall. For we do both receive the priviledge of this life, and also the life it selfe, by grace, and the gift of God for Christs sake apprehended by Faith. Rom. 6. 23. The gift of God is eternall Life in Iesus Christ our Lord. But our obedience is in a certaine manner, the Ministring, helping and furthering cause toward the possession of this life, the right where of we had before; in which respect it is called the waywherein we walke to Heaven. Eph. 2. 10.

31. But it furthers our life, both in its own nature; because it is some degree of the life, it selfe alway es tending to perfection: and also by vertue of the promise of God who hath promised life eternall to those that walke in his precepts. Galatians 6. 8. Hee that sowes to the spirit, of the spirit shall reape life eternall.

32. For although all our obedience whilst wee live here is imperfect and defiled with some mixture of sinne. Gala. 5. 17. the flesh lusteth against the spirit; yet in Christ it is so acceptable to God, that it is crowned with the greatest reward.

33. Therefore the promises made to the obedience of the faithfull, are not legall, but evangelicall, although by some they are called mixt. Mat. 5. 3.

34. The manner of obedience is in subjection or humility largely taken, whereby the creature doth submit himself to God, to receive and execute his commands: unto which there ought alwayes to be joyned. 1. Sincerity, whereby all mixture of a strange¹⁵⁸ intention and affection is removed, so that the whole man is applied to this duty. 1 Thess. 5. 23. 1 Cor. 6. 20. And 2. Zeale, that is, the highest degree of a pure affection. Gal 4. 18. It is a good thing to love servently, in a good thing alwayes.

35. The chiefe subject of obedience as also of lively Faith is the will. Phil. 2. 13. It is God that worketh in you both to will, and to doe.

36. But because the sincerity of the will approving doth most appeare in readinesse, alacrity¹⁵⁹ or cheerfulnesse of mind, therefore that cheerfulnesse doth most of all pertaine to the very essence of obedience. 2 Cor. 9. 7. Deut.28. 47. God loves a cheerfull giver: because thou didst not serve thy God in joy and cheerfulnesse of heart. So as often it is pleasing and acceptable to God, although the worke it selfe that is propounded, be not performed. 2 Cor. 8. 12. For if there be first a ready mind, one is accepted according to that he hath.

37. And because the zeale of the will doth chiefly consist in love and hatred, therefore also there is necessarily required to obedience acceptable to God, a love of the good, and hatred of evill. Ps. 45. 8. Thou hast loved righteousnesse, and hated iniquity.

38. The effect and fruit is not onely a declaration, but also a confirmation of Faith and Hope. 2 Tim. 1. 19. Keeping Faith and a good conscience, which being put away, some have made Shipwrack of Faith.

39. An adjunct that accompanies it is a conscience quiet, joyfull and glorying. Heb. 13. 18. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 John 3. 19. 21. For we trust that we have a good conscience, desiring to behave our selves well in all things. 1. Our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, by this we shall assure our hearts.