A90293:178
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.
Thirdly, Election is an eternal act of Gods will, he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world, Ephes. 1. 4. consummated antecedently to all duty of ours, Rom. 9. 11. now every cause must in order of nature, precede its effect; nothing hath an activity in causing, before it hath a being: operation, in every kind is a second act, flowing from the essence of a thing, which is the first: but all our graces and works, our faith, obedience, piety and charity, are all temporal, of yesterday, the same standing with our selves, and no longer, and therefore cannot be the cause of, no nor so much as a condition necessarily required for the accomplishment of an eternal act of God; irrevocably established before we are.
Thirdly, Election is an eternall act of Gods will, he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world, Ephes. 1. 4. consummated antecedently to all dutie of ours, Rom. 9. 11. now every cause must in order of nature, praecede its effect; nothing hath an activitie in causing, before it hath a being: operation, in every kinde is a second act, flowing from the essence of a thing, which is the first: but all our graces and workes, our faith, obedience, pietie and charitie, are all temporall, of yesterday, the same standing with our selves, and no longer, and therefore cannot be the cause of, no nor so much as a condition necessarily required for the accomplishment of an eternall act of God; irrevocably established before we are.
Fourthly: If Predestination be for faith foreseen, these three things, with divers such absurdities will necessarily follow: first, that election is not of him that calleth, as the Apostle speaks, Rom. 9. 11. that is of the good pleasure of God, who calleth us with an holy calling, but of him that is called: for depending on faith it must be his whose faith is, that doth believe: secondly, God cannot have mercy on whom he will have mercy, for the