A90293:154
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.
The Object of Predestination is, all rational creatures; now these are either Angels or men, of Angels I shall not treat: Secondly, the end by it provided for them is either eternal happiness, or eternal misery: I speak only of the former, the act of Gods predestination, transmitting men to everlasting happiness: and in this restrained sense, it differs not at all from election, and we may use them as Synonyma, terms of the same importance: though by some affirming that God predestinateth them to faith whom he hath chosen, they seem to be distinguished as the decrees of the end, and the means conducing thereunto; whereof the first is Election, intending the end, and then takes place Predestination providing the means; but this exact distinction appeareth not directly in the Scripture.
The Object of Predestination is, all rationall creatures; now these are either Angels or men, of Angels I shall not treat: Secondly, the end by it provided for them is either eternall happinesse, or eternall miserie: I speake onely of the former, the act of Gods predestination, transmitting men to everlasting happinesse: and in this restrained sense, it differs not at all from election, and we may use them as Synonyma, termes of the same importance: though by some affirming that God predestinateth them to faith whom he hath chosen, they seeme to be distinguished as the decrees of the end, and the meanes conducing thereunto; whereof the first is Election, intending the end, and then takes place Predestination providing the meanes; but this exact distinction appeareth not directly in the Scripture.
This Election the word of God proposeth unto us, as the gracious immutable decree of Almighty God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, out of his own good pleasure, he chose certain men, determining to free them from sin and misery, to bestow upon them grace and faith, to give them unto Christ, to bring them to everlasting blessedness for the praise of his glorious grace: or as it is expressed in our Church Articles, Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby before the foundations of the world were laid, he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret ⟨p. 50⟩