A90293:141
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.
Secondly, That the will of God to which our obedience is required, is the revealed will of God, contained in his word, whose compliance with his decree is such, that hence we learn three things tending to the execution of it. First, that it is the condition of the word of God, and the dispensation thereof, instantly to persuade to faith and obedience: Secondly, that it is our duty, by all means to aspire to the performance of all things by it enjoined, and our fault if we do not. Thirdly, that God by these means, will accomplish his eternal decree of saving his elect, and that he willeth the salvation of others, inasmuch as he calleth ⟨p. 45⟩them unto the performance of the condition thereof: now our obedience is so to be regulated by this revealed will of God, that we may sin, either by omission, against its precepts: or commission against its prohibitions: although by our so omitting, or committing of any thing, the secret will or purpose of God be fulfilled. Had Abraham disobeyed Gods precept, when he was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac: though Gods will had been accomplished thereby, who never intended it: yet Abraham had grievously sinned against the revealed will of God, the rule of his duty: the holiness of our actions, consisteth in a conformity unto his precepts, and not unto his purposes: on this ground (c Gregory affirmeth) that many fulfil the will of God (that is his intentions) when they think to change it, (by transgressing his precepts) and by resisting, imprudently obey Gods purpose: and to show how merely we in our actions are tied to this rule of our duty.d Saint Austine shows how a man may do good in a thing cross to Gods secret will: and evil in that which complieth with it: which he illustrates by the example of a sick parent having two children, the one wicked, who desires his fathers death, the other godly, and he prays for his life: but the will of God is he shall die, agreeably to the desire of the wicked child: and yet it is the other, who hath performed his duty, and done what is pleasing unto God.
Secondly, That the will of God to which our obedience is required, is the revealed will of God, contained in his word, whose compliance with his decree is such, that hence we learne three things tending to the execution of it. First, that it is the condition of the word of God, and the dispensation thereof, instantly to perswade to faith and obedience: Secondly, that it is our duty, by all means to aspire to the performance of all things by it enjoyned, and our fault if we doe not. Thirdly, that God by these means, will accomplish his eternall decree of saving his elect, and that he willeth the salvation of others, inasmuch as he calleth