A90293:114
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.
kHence Corvinus will grant, that the killing of a man by the slipping of an axes head from the helve, although contingent, may be said to happen according to Gods counsel, and determinate will; but on no terms will he yield, that this may be applied to actions wherein the counsel and freedom of mans will, do take place: as though, that they also, should have dependence, on any such overruling power: whereby, he absolutely excludeth the providence of God, from having any sovereignty within the territory of humane actions, which is plainly to shake off the yoke of his dominion, and to make men Lords paramount within themselves: so that they may well ascribe unto God, (as they do)l only a deceivable expectation, of those contingent things, that are yet for to come: there being no act of his own, in the producing of such effects, on which he can ground any certainty: only, he may take a conjecture, according to his guess at mens inclinations: and indeed this is the Helena for whose enjoyment, these thrice ten years▪ they have maintained warfare with the hosts of the living God: their whole endeavour being to prove, that notwithstanding the performance of all things on the part of God required for the production of any action,m yet the will of man remains absolutely free, yea in respect of the event, as well as its manner of operation, to do it, or not to do it: 4that is, notwithstanding Gods decree that such an action shall be performed, ⟨p. 33⟩and his fore-knowledge that it will so come to pass, notwithstanding his co-operating with the will of man (as far as they will allow him) for the doing of it, and though he hath determined, by that act of man to execute some of his own judgements:n yet there is no kind of necessity, but that he may as well omit, as do it: which is all one as if they should say, our tongues are our own, we ought to speak, who is Lord over us? we will vindicate our selves into a liberty, of doing what, and how, we will: though for it we cast God out of his throne: and indeed if we mark it, we shall find them undermining, and pulling down, the actual providence of God, at the root and several branches thereof. For: