A90293:272
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.
Secondly, the second plea, on Gods behalf, to prove him, the Author, and finisher of all those graces, whereof in this life we are partakers, ariseth, from what the Scripture affirmeth, concerning his working these graces in us, and that powerfully, by the effectual operation of his holy Spirit: to which, the Arminians oppose a seeming necessity, that they must needs be our own acts, contradistinct from his gifts, because they are in us, and commanded by him: the head then of this contention betwixt our God, and their Idol, about the living child of grace, is: whether he can work that in us, which he requireth of us: let us hear them pleading their cause.
Secondly, the second plea, on Gods behalfe, to prove him, the Authour, and finisher of all those graces, whereof in this life we are partakers, ariseth, from what the Scripture affirmeth, concerning his working these graces in us, and that powerfully, by the effectuall operation of his holy Spirit: to which, the Arminians oppose a seeming necessitie, that they must needs be our owne acts, contradistinct from his gifts, because they are in us, and commanded by him: the head then of this contention betwixt our God, and their Idol, about the living child of grace, is: whether he can worke that in us, which he requireth of us: let us heare them pleading their cause.
cIt is most certain that, that ought not to be commanded, which is wrought in us: and that cannot be wrought in us, which is commanded: he foolishly commandeth that to be done of others, who will work in them what he commandeth: saith their Apology.d O foolish Saint Prosper, who thought that it was the whole Pelagian heresy, to say, That there is neither praise, nor worth, as ours, ⟨p. 110⟩in that, which Christ bestoweth upon us: foolish Saint Augustine, epraying, Give us O Lord, what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt: foolish Benedict Bishop of Rome, who gave such a form to his prayer, as must needs cast an aspersion of folly, on the most high: O