A90293:268
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.
aThere is nothing more vain, nothing more foolish (say they in their Apology) then to attribute our regeneration, and faith, unto the death of Christ, for if Christ may be said to have merited for us faith, and regeneration, then faith cannot be a condition, whose performance God should require, at the hands of sinners, under the pain of eternal damnation: And again, If faith be the effect of the merit of Christ, it cannot be our duty; No? Suppose then that the Church should pray, that it would please God, for Christs sake, to call home those sheep that belong to his fold, not as yet collected? that he would grant faith and repentance, for the merit of his Son, to them that are as yet a far off? were this an altogether vain and foolish prayer? let others think as they please, it is such a vanity, as I desire not to be weaned from, nor any one else I believe, that loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity: Oh that Christians should patiently endure, such a diminution of their Saviours honour? as with one dash of an Arminian pen, to have the chief effects of his death and passion quite obliterated: if this be a motive, to the love and honour of the Son of God, if this be a way, to set forth the preciousness of his blood, by denying the efficacy thereof, in enabling us by faith to get an interest in the new covenant: most Christians in the world are under a necessity of being new Catechised by these Seraphical Doctors.
aThere is nothing more vaine, nothing more foolish (say they in their Apologie) then to attribute our regeneration, and faith, unto the death of Christ, for if Christ may be said to have merited for us faith, and regeneration, then faith cannot be a condition, whose performance God should require, at the hands of sinners, under the paine of eternall damnation: And again, If faith be the effect of the merit of Christ, it cannot be our dutie; No? Suppose then that the Church should pray, that it would please God, for Christs sake, to call home those sheepe that belong to his fold, not as yet collected? that he would grant faith and repentance, for the merit of his Sonne, to them that are as yet a farre off? were this an altogether vaine and foolish prayer? let others thinke as they please, it is such a vanitie, as I desire not to be weaned from, nor any one else I beleeve, that loves the Lord Iesus in sinceritie: Oh that Christians should patiently endure, such a diminution of their Saviours honour? as with one dash of an Arminian pen, to have the chiefe effects of his death and passion quite obliterated: if this be a motive, to the love and honour of the Son of God, if this be a way, to set forth the preciousnesse of his blood, by denying the efficacy thereof, in enabling us by faith to get an interest in the new covenant: most Christians in the world are under a necessity of being new Catechised by these Seraphicall Doctors.