A90293:117
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.
Thirdly, for Gods determining, or circumscribing the will of man to do this or that in particular: they absolutely explode it as a thing destructive to their adored liberty:s It is no way consistent with it, say they in their Apology: so alsot Arminius, The providence of God doth not determine the will of man to one part of the contradiction: that is, God hath not determined that you shall, nor doth by any means over-rule your wills, to do this thing, rather then that; to do this, or to omit it: so that the sum of their endeavour is to prove that the will of man, is so absolutely free, independent, and uncontrollable, that God doth not, nay with all his power cannot determine it, certainly and infallibly to the performance of this or that particular action, thereby to accomplish his own purposes, to attain his own ends: truly it seems to me the most unfortunate attempt that ever Christians lighted on, which if it should get success answerable to the greatness of the undertaking, the providence of God in mens essence, would be almost thrust quite out of the the world: tantae molis erat: the new goddess contingency, could not be erected, until the God of heaven was utterly despoiled of his dominion over the sons of men, and in the room thereof a home-bred Idol of self-sufficiency set up, and the world persuaded to worship it: but that the building climb no higher, let all men observe how the word of God overthrows this Babylonian tower.
Thirdly, for Gods determining, or circumscribing the will of man to doe this or that in particular: they absolutely explode it as a thing destructive to their adored libertie:s It is no way consistent with it, say they in their Apologie: so alsot Arminius, The providence of God doth not determine the will of man to one part of the contradiction: that is, God hath not determined that you shall, nor doth by any meanes over-rule your wils, to doe this thing, rather then that; to doe this, or to omit it: so that the summe of their endeavour is to prove that the will of man, is so absolutely free, independent, and uncontrouleable, that God doth not, nay with all his power cannot determine it, certainly and infallibly to the performance of this or that particular action, thereby to accomplish his owne purposes, to attaine his owne ends: truly it seemes to me the most unfortunate attempt that ever Christians lighted on, which if it should get successe answerable to the greatnesse of the undertaking, the providence of God in mens essence, would be almost thrust quite out of the the world: tantae molis erat: the new goddesse contingencie, could not be erected, untill the God of heaven was utterly dispoyled of his dominion over the sons of men, and in the roome thereof a home-bred Idol of selfe-sufficiencie set up, and the world perswaded to worship it: but that the building climbe no higher, let all men observe how the word of God overthrowes this Babylonian tower.