A90293:273
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.
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 fLord (saith he) teach us what we should do; show us whither we should go, work in us, what we ought to perform: O foolish Fathers of the second Arausican Council, affirming, gthat many good things are done in man, which he doth not himself, but a man doth no good, which God doth not so work, that he should do it: And again, as often as we do good, God worketh in us, and with us, that we may so work: In one word, this makes fools of all the Doctors of the Church, who ever opposed the Pelagian heresy, in as much as they all unanimously maintained, that we are partakers of no good thing, in this kind without the effectual powerful operation, of the Almighty grace of God: and yet our faith and obedience so wrought in us, to be most acceptable unto him: yea, what shall we say to the Lord himself, in one place commanding us to fear him, and in another promising that he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, is his command foolish, or his promise false: the Arminians must affirm the one, or renounce their heresy? but of this, after I have a little farther laid open this monstrous error, from their own words, and writings.
cIt is most certaine 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 worke in them what he commandeth: saith their Apologie.