Marrow 9: Special Government

Michael & Cody continue through The Marrow of Theology by William Ames, with focus upon chapter 10: special government of intelligent creatures. Highlights:

• Definition of special government.
• Moral vs. physical government.
• The relation of man's nature and God's special government.
• God's condescension in human characteristics and human language in his special government.
• Divine sanctions: promises and threats.
• Does God deal with rational men in a rational way?

• How does Ames define & distinguish a covenant?
• Is the Suzerain framework good or bad?
• Angels—same government as man?
• In what way can we say the fall glorifies God?
• Use of earthly things for holy ends.
• Adam as a public person and federal head.
• The covenant of works and merit.
• Was there a necessity of Christ's mediation before the Fall?
• Objections to the covenant of works: the word "covenant" is not used in Genesis; the covenant of works promotes legalism; is faith a part of the covenant of works?; it's unfair for one man to represent all and to risk death.
• How the covenant of works and of grace should motivate us to holiness.
• God's justice in punishment of death.
• The relation between Adam in the garden and Christ in the gospels.