A90293:185
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.
CHAP. VII.
Of Original sin, and the corruption of nature.
Of Originall sinne, and the corruption of nature.
Herod the great imparting his counsel of rebuilding the Temple unto the Jews,1 they much feared,2 he would never be able to accomplish his intention; but like an unwise builder having demolished the old, before he had sate down and cast up his account, whether he were able to erect a new, they should (by his project) be deprived of a Temple: wherefore to satisfy their jealousies, he resolved as he took down any part of the other, presently to erect a portion of the new in the place thereof. Right so the Arminians, determining to demolish the building of divine providence, grace, and favour, by which men have hitherto ascended into heaven, and fearing lest we should be troubled, finding our selves on a sudden deprived of that wherein we reposed our confidence for happiness, they have by degrees erected a Babylonish Tower in the room thereof, whose top they would persuade us shall reach unto heaven: First therefore the foundation stones they bring forth, crying hail, hail, unto them, and pitch them on the sandy rotten ground, of our own natures. Now because heretofore, some wise master-builders, had discovered this ground, to be very unfit to be the basis of such a lofty erection, by reason of a corrupt issue of blood and filth, arising in the middest thereof, and over-spreading the whole platform: to encourage men to an association in this desperate attempt, they proclaim to all, that there is no such evil fountain in the plain which they have chosen, for the foundation of their proud building, setting up it self against the knowledge of God in plain terms, having rejected the providence of God, from being the Original of that goodness of entity which is in our actions, and his predestination, from being the cause of that moral and spiritual goodness where with any of them are clothed, they endeavour to draw the praise of both, to the rectitude of their nature, and the strength of their own endeavours: but this attempt in