A90293:162
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.
God chooseth no particular man to salvation, but whom he seeth believing by his own power, with the help only of such means as are afforded unto others, who never believe, and as he maketh himself, thus differ from them, by a good use of his own abilities, so also he may be reduced again into the same predicament, and then his election which respecteth not him in his person, but only his qualification, quite vanisheth: but is this Gods decree of election? yes say they; andk make a doleful complaint, that any other doctrine should be taught in the Church, it is obtruded (say the true born sons of Arminius) on the Church as a most holy doctrine, that God by an absolute immutable decree, from all eternity, out of his own good pleasure, hath chosen certain persons, and those but a few in comparison, without any respect had to their faith and obedience; and predestinated them to ⟨p. 56⟩everlasting life: but what so great exception is this doctrine liable unto; what wickedness doth it include, that it should not be accounted most holy? nay, is not only the matter, but the very terms of it contained in the Scripture: doth not it say the elect are few, and they chosen before the foundation of the world; without any respect to their obedience or any thing that they had done: out of Gods mere gracious good pleasure, that his free purpose according to election might stand; even because so it pleased him: and this that they might be holy, believe, and be sanctified, that they might come unto Christ and by him be preserved into everlasting life; yea, this is that which gals them, lno such will can be ascribed unto God whereby he so willeth any one to be saved, as that thence their salvation should be sure and infallible, saith the father of those children.
God chooseth no particular man to salvation, but whom he seeth beleeving by his own power, with the helpe only of such means as are affoorded unto others, who never beleeve, and as he maketh himselfe, thus differ from them, by a good use of his own abilities, so also he may be reduced againe into the same predicament, and then his election which respecteth not him in his person, but only his qualification, quite vanisheth: but is this Gods decree of election? yes say they; and