The Rise the of Reformed System. The Intellectual Heritage of William Ames

387 Pages·2016·3.07 MB·English

by  Jan van Vliet

Commendations for The Rise of Reformed System
‘This is a masterful treatment of the thought of the great Puritan theologian
William Ames. It sets out winsomely how, through the tools of covenant
thinking and Ramist logic, Ames accomplished his goal of making Calvinism a
properly experiential religion, and theology a system of practical instruction in
“living unto God.” It demonstrates how Ames served as the crucial link between
his forebears in the Reformed tradition—especially John Calvin and William
Perkins—and his successors in Puritanism and the Dutch Second Reformation.
Clear, comprehensive, and marked by thorough scholarly command, the volume
will be valued by novice and specialist alike.’ James D. Bratt, Professor of
History, Calvin College, Michigan, USA
‘In this scholarly monograph Jan van Vliet ably supplements Keith Sprunger’s
classic work on William Ames, giving us a fuller understanding of this
influential Puritan theologian. Van Vliet carefully argues that Ames provides an
example of how the graciously given covenant can be held together with an
unapologetic call for the believer’s vibrant response of obedience. But this study
covers far more than just Ames; the reader is taken through the necessary
background behind his theology (e.g., Calvin, Perkins) and given nuanced
treatment of his influence (e.g., van Mastricht, Edwards). This work offers a
helpful contribution to Puritan studies.’
Kelly M. Kapic, Professor of Theological Studies, Covenant College, Georgia,
USA
‘Jan van Vliet has given us so much with his comprehensive and wise work on
William Ames. It is much more than a highly competent treatment of a
meaningful episode in the history of the Reformed church—it helps us think
clearly today about what is most important for us in our living for Jesus Christ.
Ames believed that the important part of the sermon is its application for life—
how many understand that today? Application to life based on solid work in
understanding God’s Word, isn’t that exactly what we want and need today? Is
faith understanding the truth? Or is desiring to do what God commands also
important? There Ames went the crucial step further: understand, desire and then
do! Isn’t the gospel a true comfort, but Ames knew it as joy! Is Jesus your own
Savior—why not add, the Savior of your church, all of you together! Most basic
of all, what is it that God does in your salvation, what must you do—in what
sense is the New Covenant conditional? The answers Ames gives are very deep,
very helpful, just what we all need to know and believe. This is a remarkable and
most necessary work. Saturate your mind and heart in it—and then do something
with it.’
D. Clair Davis, Professor of Church History and Chaplain, Redeemer Seminary,
Texas, USA
‘A fine study of William Ames, the “learned doctor” of 17th-century English
and American Puritanism and continental Reformed theology. He always taught
– and practiced – that “theology is the doctrine of living to God.” Van Vliet has
given us the most thorough study of Ames to date and skillfully placed him into
the context of his times.’
Keith L. Sprunger, Oswald H. Wedel Professor of History Emeritus, Bethel
College, Kansas, USA
‘The Rise of the Reformed System is a major contribution to Post-Reformation
historical theology. Dr. van Vliet’s thesis is that Ames left an influential legacy
of experiential Calvinism in his covenantal marriage of sovereign grace and
human obedience. The book traces the lines of influence linking Ames to a
panorama of major Reformed theologians, including Calvin, Perkins, Cocceius,
van Mastricht, Brakel, and Edwards. It also explores and offers a carefully
nuanced perspective on Ames’s “voluntarism” and ethics. Students of history,
Puritan theology, and Reformed systematics will benefit from van Vliet’s
scholarship. We are in his debt for this book which helps to bridge the gap
between Dutch and English-speaking scholarship on Reformed, experiential
orthodoxy.’
Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Michigan,
USA
‘This is an astute and ambitious study of William Ames, among the most
influential of English Puritan theologians. Its great strength is that it locates
Ames within the broad sweep of the Reformed tradition from Calvin to Edwards,
showing how his writings powerfully shaped its covenant theology, ethics, and
experiential piety. The book will prove especially useful to English-speaking
readers, for it opens up the Dutch context in fascinating ways.’ John Coffey,
Professor of Early Modern History, Leicester University, UK
‘Jan van Vliet’s thorough intellectual history of William Ames documents the
significance of this important Puritan theologian for the rise and development of
the Reformed system. Arguing that Ames’ contribution to Reformed thinking
has been undervalued, van Vliet splendidly shows how the Amesian double
emphasis on covenant theology and piety stands in continuity with the likes of
Calvin and Perkins, and how it influenced subsequent Reformed leaders such as
Cocceius and Edwards. Van Vliet’s study convincingly conveys the thought and
influence of Ames who called the church to an experiential Christianity which
held doctrine and godliness together. Such an emphasis is still of vital
importance for the Reformed faith today.’
John A. Vissers, Professor of Historical Theology, Knox College, University of
Toronto, Canada
‘My colleague Jan van Vliet has written a very interesting and intriguing study
on the Puritan William Ames and his federal and volitional theology. He
enhances the value of his book by delineating the influence Ames exerted on
both Dutch and American Reformed experiential theology. Heretofore, nearly all
Dutch researchers have assumed that Ames left little mark on the landscape of
the Nadere Reformatie after his death in 1633. Van Vliet, however, is
convincing in demonstrating that leading men of the Nadere Reformatie, such as
Wilhelmus à Brakel and Petrus van Mastricht, were indebted to Ames on crucial
points of their theological views. And these were not the only figures within the
Nadere Reformatie to owe Ames a debt! In America, moreover, Jonathan
Edwards was similarly influenced. This book will not, of course, be the last word
on the topic, but not a single future researcher will be able to take the liberty of
ignoring the results of the investigation that van Vliet submits in this book.’
W.J. op ‘t Hof, Affiliate Professor of the History of Reformed Pietism at VU
University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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First published 2013 by Paternoster
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STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY AND THOUGHT