A90293:121
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, the certainty of divers promises and threatenings of Almighty God, dependeth upon his powerful determining, and turning the wills and heart of men which way he pleaseth: thus to them that fear him, he promiseth that they shall find favour in the sight of man, Prov. 3. 4. Now if notwithstanding, all Gods powerful operation in their hearts, it remaineth absolutely in the hands of men, whether they will favour them that fear him or no: it is wholly in their power whether God shall be true in his promises or no: surely when Jacob wrestled with God on the strength of some such promise, Gen. 32. 12. he little thought of any question, whether it were in the power of God to perform it: yea and the event showed that there ought to be no such question, G•n. 33. for the Lord turned the heart of his brother ⟨p. 37⟩Esau, as he doth of others, when he makes them pity his servants when at any time they have carried away captives, Psal. 106. 46. See also the same powerful operation, required to the execution of his judgements: Job 12. 17. and Chap. 20. 21, &c. In brief, there is no prophecy nor prediction in the whole Scripture, no promise to the Church or faithful, to whose accomplishment, the free actions and concurrence of men is required, but evidently declareth, that God disposeth of the hearts of men, ruleth their wills, inclineth their affections, and determines them freely to choose, and do, what he in his good pleasure hath decreed shall be performed; such as were the prophesies of deliverance from the Babylonish captivity by Cyrus, Isa. 42. Of the conversion of the Gentiles, of the stability of the Church, Matth. 16. Of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, Matth. 24. with innumerable others: I will add only some few reasons for the close of this long discourse.