William Ames
William Ames
William Ameswas an English Protestant divine, philosopher, and controversialist. He spent much time in the Netherlands, and is noted for his involvement in the controversy between the Calvinists and the Arminians...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
either english-philosopher god good itself ours regards toward worship
The worship which directs itself toward God as our good regards him either as he is ours at present, in faith, or as he is to be ours, in hope.
cannot church english-philosopher gifts god necessary prescribe whom
But the church cannot confer the necessary gifts for this ministry, and cannot prescribe for God those upon whom he should confer them.
according english-philosopher nor ordering
The world has not been in existence from eternity nor could it have been according to the present dispensation and ordering of things.
conceive duty english-philosopher good joined known perfect whatever
For this is our most perfect duty and yet least known to us by nature: Whatever we conceive or will should be joined with the good of our neighbor.
english-philosopher god hearing means receiving whether word
Hearing here, therefore, means any receiving of the word of God whether it be communicated to us by preaching, reading, or any other way.
approved best counsel english-philosopher god manner understanding
The counsel of God is, as it were, his deliberation over the best manner of accomplishing anything already approved by the understanding and the will.
spiritual heart men
The inward offer is a kind of spiritual enlightenment, whereby the promises are presented to the hearts of men, as it were, by an inward word.
agents action creation
Active creation is conceived as a transitive action in which there is always presupposed an object about which the agent is concerned; it is virtually but not formally transitive because it makes, not presupposes, an object.
men ideas firsts
An idea in man is first impressed upon him and afterwards expressed in things, but in God it is only expressed, not impressed, because it does not come from anywhere else.
mean church edification
The ordinary ministry is that which receives all of its direction from the will of God revealed in the Scriptures and from those means which God has appointed in the church for its continual edification.
spiritual men grace
The passive receiving of Christ is the process by which a spiritual principle of grace is generated in the will of man.
perfection use goodness
The goodness of a thing created is the perfection of its fitness for the use which it serves. Now that use is either particular or universal.
hearing receiving gods-will
Hearing the word is the devout receiving of the will of God.
teaching doctrine theology
Theology is the doctrine or teaching of living to God.