A90293:270
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.
The Arminians have but one argument, that ever I could meet with, whereby they strive to rob Christ of this glory, of meriting and procuring for us faith and repentance; and that is, because they are such acts of ours, as in duty and obedience to the precepts of the Gospel, we are bound to perform:b and this they every where press at large, usque & usque, in plain terms they will not suffer their Idol to be accounted defective in any thing that is necessary to bring us unto heaven: now concerning this argument, that nothing which God requireth of us, can be procured for us by Christ: I would have two things noted. First, that the strength of it consists in this, that no gift of God bestowed upon us, can be a thing well pleasing to him as being in us: for all his precepts and commands signify only, what is well pleasing unto him, that we should be, or do; and it is not the meriting of any thing by Christ, but Gods bestowing of it, as the effect thereof, which hinders it from being a thing, requireable of us, as a part of our duty, wch I shall consider hereafter: only now observe, that there being nothing in us, by the way of habit or act from the beginning of our faith, to the consummation thereof from our new birth, until we become perfect men in Christ, by the finishing of our course, that is not required of us in the Gospel, all, and every grace, whereof we are in this life partakers, are by this means denied to be gifts of God. Secondly, consider the extent of this argument it self: nothing whose performance is our duty, can be merited for us by Christ; when the Apostle beseecheth us, to ⟨p. 109⟩be reconciled unto God, I would know, whether it be not a part of our duty to yield obedience to the Apostles exhortation: if not his exhortation is frivolous and vain, if so, then to be reconciled unto God, is a part of our duty, and yet the Arminians sometime seem to confess, that Christ hath obtained for us a reconciliation with God: the like may be said, in divers other particulars, so that this argument, either proveth that we enjoy no fruit of the death of Christ in this life: or (which is most true) it proveth nothing at all: for neither the merit of Christ procuring, nor God bestowing any grace, in the habit, doth at all hinder, but that in the exercise thereof, it may be a duty of ours, inasmuch as it is done in us, and by us:
The Arminians have but one argument, that ever I could meet with, whereby they strive to rob Christ of this glory, of meriting and procuring for us faith and repentance; and that is, because they are such acts of ours, as in dutie and obedience to the precepts of the Gospel, we are bound to performe: