A90293:100
Theomachia autexousiastikē
Theomachia autexousiastikē: or, A display of Arminianism. Being a discovery of the old Pelagian idol free-will, with the new goddess contingency, advancing themselves, into the throne of the God of heaven to the prejudice of his grace, providence, and supreme dominion over the children of men. Wherein the main errors of the Arminians are laid open, by which they are fallen off from the received doctrine of all the reformed churches, with their opposition in divers particulars to the doctrine established in the Church of England. Discovered out of their own writings and confessions, and confuted by the Word of God. / By John Owen, Master of Arts of Queens College in Oxon.Theomachia autexousiastikē: or, A display of Arminianisme. Being a discovery of the old Pelagian idol free-will, with the new goddesse contingency, advancing themselves, into the throne of the God of heaven to the prejudice of his grace, providence, and supreme dominion over the children of men. Wherein the maine errors of the Arminians are laid open, by which they are fallen off from the received doctrine of all the reformed churches, with their opposition in divers particulars to the doctrine established in the Church of England. Discovered out of their owne writings and confessions, and confuted by the Word of God. / By Iohn Owen, Master of Arts of Queens Colledge in Oxon.
London: printed by I.L. for Phil. Stephens, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This then we may conceive, as an ineffable act or work of Almighty God: whereby he cherisheth, sustaineth, and governeth the world, or all things by him created, moving them agreeably to those natures, which he endowed them withal in the beginning, unto those ⟨p. 25⟩ends, which he hath proposed: to confirm this, I will first prove this position, that the whole world is cared for by God, and by him governed, and therein all men, good, or bad, all things, in particular, be they never so small and in our eyes inconsiderable: secondly, show the manner, how God worketh all, in all things, and according to the diversity of secondary causes which he hath created: whereof, some are necessary, some free, others contingent, which produce their effects, nec [Greek or Hebrew] nec [Greek or Hebrew], meerely by accident.
This then we may conceive, as an ineffable act or worke of Almightie God: whereby he cherisheth, sustaineth, and governeth the world, or all things by him created, moving them agreeably to those natures, which he endowed them withall in the beginning, unto those ⟨p. 25⟩ends, which he hath proposed: to confirme this, I will first prove this position, that the whol world is cared for by God, and by him governed, and therein all men, good, or bad, all things, in particular, be they never so small and in our eyes inconsiderable: secondly, shew the manner, how God worketh all, in all things, and according to the diversitie of secondary causes which he hath created: whereof, some are necessary, some free, others contingent, which produce their effects, nec 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 nec 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, meerely by accident.
The providence of God in governing the world, is plentifully made known unto us, both by his works, and by his word. I will give a few instances of either sort. 1. in general, that the Almighty [Greek or Hebrew] and framer of this whole universe, should propose unto himself no end in the creation of all things: that he should want either power, goodness, will, or wisdom, to order, and dispose the works of his own hands is altogether impossible. 2. Take a particular instance, in one concerning accident, the knowledge whereof by some means or other, in some degree or other hath spread it self throughout the world: and that is that almost universal destruction of all by the flood, whereby the whole world was well-nigh reduced to its primitive confusion, is there nothing but chance to be seen in this? was there any circumstance about it that did not show a God, and his providence? not to speak of those revelations, whereby God foretold that he would bring such a deluge: what chance fortune could collect, such a small number of individuals of all sorts, wherein the whole kind might be preserved? what hand guided that poor vessel from the rocks, and gave it a resting place on the mountains? certainly, the very reading of that story,