The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. THe Subsistence¹⁹ of God is that one Essence, as it is with its personall properties.

2. The same essence is common to three subsistences, and as touching the Deity, every subsistence is of it selfe.

3. Nothing moreover is attributed to the Essence, which may not be attributed to every subsistence in regard of the Essence of it.

4. But those things that are attributed properly to every subsistence in regard of its subsistence, cannot be attributed to the Essence.²⁰

5. The subsistences are distinguished from the Essence, as the manners of subsisting growing together²¹ with the same Essence are distinguished from the same absolutely considered.

6. They are distinguished among themselves, as Relatives by certaine relative properties; so as one cannot be another; yet they are together in nature, neither can they be said to be former, or latter; but in order of beginning,²² and manner of subsisting.

7. But seeing those relative properties are, as it were individuating²³ in an Essence that lives spiritually and most perfectly: therefore those subsistences are rightly called persons.

8. Now these properties are not inherent qualities, but relative affections, unto which agrees all that perfection, which is found in the like affections of the Creature, but no imperfection agreeth to them.

9. Hence tis that a relative property in God doth make or infer a person, which in the Creatures hath not the same reason.

10. Those subsistences are either breathing, as Father, and Sonne; or breathed, as the Holy Spirit.

11. To breath, or send forth is a relation, not such as by it selfe can make a person, but common to two persons.

12. The relative property of the Father is to beget, Psal. 2. 7. Thou art my Sonne, this day I begot thee. John 3. 16. the only begotten Sonne. Heb. 1. 6. The first begotten. Hence he is the first in Order.

13. The relative property of the Sonne is to be begotten, that is, so to proceede from the Father, that he is partaker of the same Essence, and doth perfectly resemble his nature: and hence, he is the second in order, Heb. 1. 3. The brightnesse of his glory, and the Character of his Person.

14. The property of the holy Ghost, is to be breathed, or sent forth, and proceede both from the Father, and the Sonne. John 15. 26. Whom I will send to you from the Father, that spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, Romans 8. 9. The spirit of Christ. Gal. 4. 6. The spirit of the Sonne.

15. The difference betweene (these two) to be begotten, which agrees to the Sonne, and to proceed, which is proper to the holy Ghost, cannot be explained by us in proper words, but that the Sonne proceeds from the Father alone, and the holy Ghost from the Father and the Sonne, making one relative together, Or making together one relation.

16. Yet it may, in part, be shadowed out in a similitude; namely the father is as it were, Deus intelligens, God understanding: the Sonne the expresse Image of the Father, is as it were Deus intellectus, God understood; the holy Spirit flowing and breathed from the Father by the Sonne, is as it were Deus dilectus, God beloved.

The Sonne is produced as it were by an act of understanding or speaking, from the understanding, or fruitfull memory of the Father: the holy Spirit is produced by an act of loving or breathing from the fruitfull will of the Father and the Sonne. Hence the Sonne is called the word, Wisdome, Image, which are not affirmed of the holy Ghost. But because in the Creatures there is found the generation of a sonne, but there is not any thing found which doth so immediately procced from two equally perfect (as the holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father, and the Sonne) therefore the procession²⁴ of the Sonne is properly designed, noted, or set downe in Scripture: but neither is a speciall manner of proceeding, nor speciall name absolutly proper given to the third person. For it is truly said of the Father and the Sonne, that they are spirits, and holy, and the Sonne also proceedeth from the Father by spirituall generation.

17. The proper name of God, with his proper titles, is given in Scripture, not onely to the Father, but also to the Sonne. Ier. 23. 6. Iehova our righteousnesse, John 1, 1. The word was God, Rom. 9. 5. God blessed for ever, 1. Tim. 3, 16. God manifest in the flesh, Rev. 17. 14. Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. It is also given to the holy Spirit. Acts 5. 3, 4. that thou shouldest ly to the holy Spirit, thou hast lien unto God, Acts 28. 25. with Isay 6. 9. Iehova said, the holy Ghost spake, 1. Cor. 3. 16. & 6. 19. 2. Cor. 6. 16. the Temple of God, the Temple of the spirit.

18. Divine attributes are affirmed not only of the Father, but also of the Son, Isay 9. 6. The most mighty God. Father of eternity, John 2. 25. He knew what was in man, and 3. 13. The son of man is in Heaven, and 8. 38. Before Abraham was I am. In like manner also of the holy Spirit, Psal. 139. 7. Whither shall I fly from thy spirit. 1. Cor. 2. 10. The spirit searcheth all things, even the deepe things of God. Heb. 9. 14. the eternall spirit.

19. The proper operations of God, are attributed not only to the Father, but also to the Sonne, and the holy spirit. Election is attributed to the Sonne, Mat. 24. 31. His elect, and the eternall counsell of God is attributed to the holy Ghost. Isay 40. 13. Who hath waighed the spirit of the Lord as the man of his counsell, Creation, is attributed to the Sonne, John 1. 3. All things were made by him, and without him was made nothing that was made: Also it is attributed to the holy Spirit, Psal. 33. 6. By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made, and all the strength of them by the breath of his mouth. Upholding, & governing of things created is attributed to the Sonne, Heb. 1. 3. Who upholdeth all things by that his mighty Word. Also they are attributed to the holy Spirit. Gen. 1. 2. The spirit did move upon the face of the waters. Zech. 4. 6. By my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts; Proper Power of doing miracles is given to the Son. Act. 4. 10. Through the name of Iesus Christ, he standeth before you whole, & 9, 34. Iesus Christ he aleth thee. Its also given to the holy Spirit, Acts 2. 4. They began to speake with tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. The communicating of spirituall life, and of all grace, in vocation, justification, adoption, sanctiand glorification, fication, is every where given as well to the Sonne & holy Spirit as to the Father, the ordaining, sending & blessing of Ecclesiasticall Ministery is given to the Sonn, Eph. 4. 8. 11. He gave gifts, he gave some Apostles, &c. And to the holy Ghost, 1. Cor. 12. 11. All these worketh one & the same spirit, Act. 20. 28. The holy Spirit hath made you overseers. The very Resurrection of the flesh is ascribed to the Sonne, as the author, John 6. 54. I will raise him up. Also to the holy Spirit, Rom. 8. 11. Hee shall raise up your bodies, by his spirit dwelling in you.

20. Divine honour also, and worship is given, not only to the Father, but also to the Sonne, Heb. 1. 6. Let all the Angels of God worship him. And also to the holy Spirit: when his Name together with the Father and the Sonne, is appointed to be called upon over the Baptised. Mat. 28. 19. In the name of the Father, and Sonne, and holy Spirit. In like manner the Sonne, and Spirit is called upon, in that solemne forme of salutation. The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communication of the holy Spirit be with you all, 2. Cor. 13. 13. And whatsoever pertaineth to worship is referred as well to Christ as to the holy Spirit, in that the true worshippers of God, as they are such, are called Temples not only of God the Father, but also of Christ, Rev. 21. 22. The Lord God Almighty is her Temple, and the Lambe. 1. Cor. 3. 16. Know yee not, that yee are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? and 6. 19. Know yee not that your body is the Temple of the holy Spirit, who is in you.

21. Finally, that authority, and majesty, which is proper to God, is given to the Sonne and the spirit. 1. Cor. 2. 8. The Lord of glory, 1. Pet. 4. 14. that spirit of glory. All holy prophecy is attributed to Christ and the holy Spirit. 1. Pet. 3. 19. Christ by his spirit went and preached to the spirits that are in prison. 2. Pet. 1. 21. Holy men spake being moved by the holy Spirit. Acts 28. 25. The holy Spirit spake by Isaiah the Prophet.

22. Now that the holy Spirit is propounded to us in all these as a person subsisting, it doth manifestly appeare by this, that life, understanding, will and power is given to him every where, together with all acts proper to a person.

23. Also his distinction from the Father and the Sonne is cleerly taught when he is called, another, sent, comming, from the Father and the Sonne. John 14.

24. Hence, God is the object of our Faith, is every way sufficient to impart salvation to us. For all love, grace, and the communication of those things which pertaine to living well, doe flow from the Father, Sonne, and holy Spirit, 2. Cor. 13. 13.