A90293:138
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.
Now of these two differences, the first is perpetual, in regard of their several acts, but not so the latter, they are sometimes coincident in regard of their objects: for instance, God commandeth us to believe, here his revealed will, is that we should so do: withal he intendeth we shall do so, and therefore ingenerateth faith in our hearts that we may believe: here his secret and revealed will, are coincident, the former being his precept, that we should believe, the latter his purpose that we shall believe: in this case, I say, the object of the one, and the other, is the same, even what we ought to do, and what he will do.
Now of these two differences, the first is perpetuall, in regard of their severall acts, but not so the latter, they are sometimes coincident in regard of their objects: for instance, God commandeth us to beleeve, here his revealed will, is that we should so do: withall he intendeth we shall doe so, and therefore ingenerateth faith in our hearts that we may beleeve: here his secret and revealed will, are coincident, the former being his precept, that we should beleeve, the latter his purpose that we shall beleeve: in this case, I say, the object of the one, and the other, is the same, even what we ought to doe, and what he will doe.
And this inasmuch, as he hath wrought all our works in us: Isaiah 26. 12. they are our own works, which he works in us: his act in us, and by us, is ofttimes our duty towards him: he commands us by his revealed will to walk in his Statutes, and keep his Laws, upon this, he also promiseth that he will so effect all things, that of some this shall be performed: Ezek. 36. 26, 27. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgements and do them: so that the self same obedience of the people of God, is here the object of his will, taken in either acceptation: and yet the precept of God, is not here as some learned men suppose, declarative of Gods intention, for then, it must be so to all, to whom it is given, which evidently it is not, for many are commanded to believe, on whom God never bestoweth faith: it is still to be looked upon, as a mere declaration of our duty, its closing with Gods intention, being accidental unto it: there is a wide difference betwixt, do such a thing, and you shall