A90293:119
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.
But also secondly, that the working of his providence is effectual even in the hearts and wills of men, to turn them which way he will, and to determine them to this, or that in particular according as he pleaseth: The preparations of the heart, in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord, saith Solomon, Prov. 16. 1. which Jacob trusted and relied on, when he prayed, That the Lord would grant his sons to find favour and mercy, before that man, Gen. 43. 14. whom then he supposed to be some Atheistical Egyptian; whence we must grant, if either the good old man, believed that it was in the hand of God, to incline and unalterably turn and settle the heart of Joseph, to favour his brethren, or else his prayer must have had such a senseless sense as this: Grant O Lord, such a general influence of thy providence, that the heart of that man, may be turned to good towards my sons, or else that it may not, being left to its own freedom; a strange request; yet how it may be bettered, by one believing the Arminian doctrine I cannot conceive: Thus Solomon affirmeth, that the heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water he turneth it which way he will, Pro. 21. 1. If the heart of a King who hath an inward natural liberty equal with others, and an outward liberty belonging to his state and condition above them, be yet so in the hand of the Lord, as that he always turneth it, to what he pleaseth in particular, then certainly other men, are not excepted from the rule of the same providence: which is the plain sense of these words, and the direct Thesis, which we maintain, in opposition to the Arminian Idol of absolute independent Free-will: So Daniel also reproving the Babylonian Tyrant, affirmeth that he glorified not God in whose hand was his breath, and whose were all his ways, Dan. 5. 23. not only his breath and life, but also all his ways, his actions, thoughts and words, were in the hand of God.
But also secondly, that the working of his providence is effectuall even in the hearts and wils of men, to turne them which way he will, and to determine them to this, or that in particular according as he pleaseth: The preparations of the heart, in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord, saith Solomon,