The Marrow of Theology Quotes

“70. This affectation of a man’s own excellency if it be exercised about good things that we have, it is called boasting: if about those things which we would seem to have, it is called arrogance: if about the fame and esteem which we seek with others, it is called vain glory: if about dignities, it is called ambition: if about the undertaking of matters, which are beyond our strength, it is called presumption.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“25. Superstition is that whereby undue worship is yielded to God.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“44. In meter singing is joined, and therefore there must be more care of the speech and tone, then in prose. 45. But the melody of singing is ordained for a certain spiritual delight, whereby the mind is detained in the meditation of the thing that is sung.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“Prayer differs from hearing the word, in that hearing is conversant about the will of God, but Prayer about our will: in hearing the word we receive the Will of God, but in Prayer we offer our will to God, that it may be received by him.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“Virtue is an habit whereby the will is inclined to do well.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“An appendix of the Sermon is Prayer, both before and after.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“Doctrine is a Theological Axiom, either consisting in the express word of Scripture, or flowing from them by immediate consequence.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“29. The profession of the true Faith is the most essential note of the Church.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“Peace is a quieting of the mind, which ariseth partly from deliverance from evils, and partly from the presence or hope of contrary good things. Phil. 4. 7.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“Joy is that delight which is perceived from the conjunction, and communion of the chief good.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“The poverty of Christ was without a singular vow, and without beggary.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“This Justice as it doth burn simply against Sin is called wrath Rom. 1. 18. Eph. 5. 6. As it doth more fiercely wax hot it is called fury. Deut. 29. 20. As it doth give sentence to be executed against a Sinner it is called judgement. Rom. 2. 5. As it doth execute the sentence given, it is properly called revenge. Heb. 10. 30.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“In the Angels there was no ἀνάστασις or Restoring. First, Because they Fell from the highest top of excellency: Secondly, because in the Fall of Angels, all the Angelical nature did not perish, but by the sin of the first Man all mankind did perish.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“God therefore useth means, not for want of power, but through the abundance of his goodness: that namely he might communicate a certain dignity of working to his Creatures also, in them might make his efficiency more perceivable.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“16. Yet it may, in part, be shadowed out in a similitude; namely the father is as it were, Deus intelligens, God understanding: the Son the express Image of the Father, is as it were Deus intellectus, God understood; the holy Spirit flowing and breathed from the Father by the Son, is as it were Deus dilectus, God beloved.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“15. Therefore to believe in God, is in believing to cleave to God, to lean 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.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology

“Faith is a resting of the heart on God; as on the author of life and eternal salvation: that is to say, that by him we may be freed from all evil, and obtain all good, Isa. 10. 20.”
― William Ames, The Marrow of Theology