A90293:157
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.
First, the Article consonantly to the Scripture affirmeth, that it is an eternal decree, made before the foundations of the world were laid, so that by it we must needs be chosen before we are borne, before we have done either good or evil: the words of the Article are clear, and so also is the Scripture, He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world: Ephes. Chap. 1. vers. 4. The children being not yet borne, before they had done either good or evil, it was said, &c. Rom. 9. 11. We are called with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Jesus Christ before the world began: 2 Tim. 1. 9. Now from hence it would undoubtedly follow, that no good thing in us, can be the cause of our election, for every cause must in order precede its effect, but all things whereof we by any means are partakers, in as much as they are ours are temporary, and so cannot be the cause of that which is eternal: things with that qualification, must have reference to the sole will and good pleasure of God, which inference would break the neck of the Arminian election: wherefore to prevent such a fatal ruin, they deny the principle, to wit, that election is eternal: aSo the Remonstrants in their Apology;b Complete election regardeth none but him that is dying, for this peremptory election decreeth the whole accomplishment and consummation of salvation, and therefore requireth in the object the finished course of faith and obedience, saith Grevinchovius: which is to make Gods election nothing but an act of his justice, approving our obedience: and such an act as is incident to any weak man, who knows not what will happen in the next hour that is yet for to come: and is this post-destination, that which is proposed to us in the Scripture, ⟨p. 53⟩as the unsearchable fountain of all Gods love towards us in Christ?c yea, say they, we acknowledge no other predestination to be revealed in the Gospel, besides that whereby God decreeth to save them who should persevere in faith, that is Gods determination concerning their salvation is pendulous, until he find by experience, that they will persevere in obedience. But I wonder why, seeing election is confessedly one of the greatest expressions of Gods infinite goodness, love, and mercy towards us;