A90293:224
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.
Nothing doth more manifest the deviation of our nature, from its first institution, and declare the corruption wherewith we are polluted, then that propensity which is in us to every thing that is evil, that inclination of the flesh, which lusteth always against the spirit, that lust and concupiscence, which fomenteth, conceiveth, hatcheth, bringeth forth, and nourisheth sin: that perpetual proneness that is in unregenerate nature, to every thing, that is contrary to the pure and holy Law of God: now because neither Scripture nor experience, will suffer Christians quite to deny this pravity of our nature, this averseness from all good, and propensity to sin, the Arminians extenuate it, as much as they are able: affirming that it is no great matter; no more then Adam, was subject unto, in the state of innocency: but what? did God create in Adam, a proneness unto evil? was that a part of his glorious image, in whose likeness he was framed? yea, saith Corvinus, aBy reason of his creation, man had an affection to what was forbidden by the Law, but yet this seems injustice, that God should give a man a law to keep,b and put upon his nature a repugnancy to that law, as one of them affirmed at the Synod of Dort. No? saith the former Author:c Man had not been fit, to have had a law given unto him, had he not been endued, with a propension, and natural inclination, to that which is forbidden by the law; but why is this so necessary in men, rather then Angels? no doubt there was a law, a rule, for their obedience, given unto them at their first creation, which some transgressed, when others kept it inviolate: had they also a propensity to sin, concreated with their nature? had they a natural affection, put upon them by God, to that which was forbidden by the law? let them only who will be wise, beyond the word of God, affix such injustice ⟨p. 87⟩on the righteous Judge of all the earth: but so it seems it must be:d There was an inclination in man, to sin before the fall, though not altogether so vehement and inordinate as it is now, saith Arminius: hitherto we have thought, that the original righteousness, wherein Adam was created, had comprehended the integrity and perfection of the whole man: