A90293:247
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.
I come now to consider the main Question of this difference, though sparingly handled by our Divines: concerning what our Saviour merited, and purchased for them for whom he died: and here you shall find the old Idol playing his pranks, and quite devesting the merit of Christ, from the least ability or power, of doing us any good; for though the Arminians pretend very speciously, that Christ died for all men: yet in effect, they make him die for no one man at all: and that by denying the effectual operation ⟨p. 98⟩of his death, and ascribing the proper issues of his passion, to the brave endeavours of their own Pelagian Deity.
I come now to consider the maine Question of this difference, though sparingly handled by our Divines: concerning what our Saviour merited, and purchased for them for whom he died: and here you shall finde the old Idol playing his prankes, and quite devesting the merit of Christ, from the least ability or power, of doing us any good; for though the Arminians pretend very speciously, that Christ died for all men: yet in effect, they make him die for no one man at all: and that by denying the effectuall operation ⟨p. 98⟩of his death, and ascribing the proper issues of his passion, to the brave indevours of their owne Pelagian Deitie.
We (according to the Scriptures) plainly believe, that Christ hath by his righteousness, merited for us grace and glory; that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, in, though, and for him: that he is made unto us righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that he hath procured for us, and that God for his sake, bestoweth on us every grace, in this life, that maketh us differ from others, and all that glory we hope for, in that which is to come: he procured for us remission of all our sins, an actual reconciliation with God, faith, and obedience: yea, but this is such a desperate doctrine, as stabs at the very heart of the Idol: and would make him as altogether useless, as if he were but a fig-tree log: what remaineth for him to do, if all things in this great work of our salvation, must be thus ascribed unto Christ, and the merit of his death? Wherefore the worshippers of this great God, Lib. Arbit. oppose their engines against the whole fabric, and cry down the title of Christs merits, to these spiritual blessings, in the behalf of their imaginary Deity.