A90293:248
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.
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.
We (according to the Scriptures) plainly beleeve, that Christ hath by his righteousnesse, merited for us grace and glory; that we are blessed with all spirituall blessings, in, though, and for him: that he is made unto us righteousnesse, 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 sinnes, an actuall 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 uselesse, as if he were but a figgetree logge: what remaineth for him to doe, if all things in this great worke 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 fabricke, and cry downe the title of Christs merits, to these spirituall blessings, in the behalfe of their imaginarie Deity.
Now because they are things of a two-fold denomination, about which we contend, before the king of heaven; each part producing their evidence; the first springing from the favour of God towards us: the second from the working of his grace, actually within us, I shall handle them severally, and apart: especially because to things of this latter sort, gifts, as we call them, enabling us to fulfil the condition, required, for the attaining of glory, we lay a double claim, on Gods behalf: First, as the death of Christ, is the meritorious cause procuring them of him: Secondly, as his free grace is their efficient cause working them in us; they also producing a double title, whereby, they would invest their beloved darling, with a sole propriety in causing these effects. First, in regard that they are our own acts performed in us, and by us: secondly, as they are parts of our duty, which we are enjoined to do, so that the quarrel is directly between Christs Merits and our own free-will, about procuring the