A90293:112
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.
God being as it were always ready at hand, to do that small part which he hath in our actions, whensoever we please to use him: or, if we please to let him alone, he no way moveth us to the performance of any thing: now God forbid that we should give our consent to the choice of such a Captain, under whose conduct we might go down again unto Paganism; to the erecting of such an Idol, into the Throne of the Almighty: No doubtless; let us be most indulgent to our wills, and assign them all the liberty that is competent unto a created nature, to do all things freely according to election and foregoing counsel, being free from all natural necessity, and outward compulsion: but for all this, let us not presume to deny Gods effectual assistance, his particular powerful influence, into the wills and actions of his creatures, directing of them to a voluntary performance of what he hath determined: which the Arminians opposing in the behalf of their darling Free-will, do work in the hearts of men, an overweening of their own power, and an absolute independence of the providence of God. For:
God being as it were alwaies ready at hand, to doe that small part which he hath in our actions, whensoever we please to use him: or, if we please to let him alone, he no way moveth us to the performance of any thing: now God forbid that we should give our consent to the choyce of such a Captaine, under whose conduct we might goe downe againe unto Paganisme; to the erecting of such an Idol, into the Throne of the Almightie: No doubtlesse; let us be most indulgent to our wils, and assigne them all the libertie that is competent unto a created nature, to doe all things freely according to election and foregoing counsell, being free from all naturall necessity, and outward compulsion: but for all this, let us not presume to denie Gods effectuall assistance, his particular powerfull influence, into the wils and actions of his creatures, directing of them to a voluntary performance of what he hath determined: which the Arminians opposing in the behalfe of their darling Free-will, doe worke in the hearts of men, an overweening of their owne power, and an absolute independence of the providence of God. For:
First, they deny that God (in whom we live and move and have our being) doth any thing by his providence,