A90293:274
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.
hCan any one, say they, wisely and seriously prescribe the performance of a condition to another, under the promise of a reward, and threatening of punishment, who will effect it in him, to whom it is prescribed? this is a ridiculous action, scarce worthy of the Stage: that is, seeing Christ hath affirmed, that whosoever believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned, Matth. 16. 16. whereby faith, is established, the condition of salvation, and unbelief, threatened with hell: If God should by his holy Spirit, ingenerate faith in the hearts of any, causing them so to fulfil the condition, it were a mere mockery, to be exploded from a Theatre as an unlikely fiction: which, what an aspersion it casts upon the whole Gospel of Christ, yea, on all Gods dealing with the children of men, ever since, by reason of the fall, they became unable of themselves, to fulfil his commands, I leave ⟨p. 111⟩to all mens silent judgements: well then, seeing they must be accounted [Greek or Hebrew], things inconsistent, that God should be so righteous, as to show us our duty, and yet so good and merciful, as to bestow his graces on us: let us hear more of this stuff: ifaith and conversion cannot be our obedience, if they are wrought in us by God, say they at the Hague: and Episcopius, kThat it is a most absurd thing, to affirm, that God either effects by his power, or procureth by his wisdom, that the elect should do those things, that he requireth of them: So that where the Scripture calls faith the gift, and work of God, they say it is an improper locution, in as much as he commands it, properly, it is an act or work of our own: Andl for that renowned saying of Saint Augustine, that God crowneth his own gifts in us, that it is not to be received without a grain of salt: That is, some such gloss as wherewith they corrupt the Scripture: the sum at which they aim is, that to affirm, that God bestoweth any grace upon us, or effectually worketh them in us, contradicteth his word, requiring them as our duty, and obedience: by which means they have erected their Idol, into the throne of Gods free grace and mercy, and attribute unto it all the praise, due to those many heavenly qualifications, the servants of God are endowed withal, for they never have more good in them, no, nor so much, as is required, all that they have, or do, is but their duty: