A90293:289
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.
It is true indeed, some of the ancient Fathers, before the rising of the Pelagian heresy; who had so put on Christ, as Lipsius speaks, that they had not fully put of Plato, have unadvisedly dropped some speeches, seeming to grant, that divers men before the Incarnation, living [Greek or Hebrew], according to the dictates of right reason, might be saved without faith in Christ: as is well showed by learned Causabon, in his first exercitation on Baronius: but let this be accounted part of that stubble, which shall burn at the last day, wherewith the writings of all men, not divinely inspired may be stained: it hath also since, (as what hath not) been drawn into dispute among the wrangling Schoolmen: and yet, which is rarely seen, their verdict in this particular, almost unanimously passeth for the truth:h Aquinas tells us a story of the corps of a heathen, that should be taken up in the time of the Empress Irene, and her son Constantine, with a golden plate on his breast, wherein was this inscription: Christ is borne of a virgin, and I believe in him oh Sun, thou shalt see me again, in the days of Irene and Constantine: but the question is not, whether a Gentile believing in Christ may be saved? or whether God did not reveal himself, and his Son, extraordinarily to some of them: for shall we straighten the breast, and shorten the arm of the Almighty, as though he might not do what he will with his own. But whether a man by the conduct of nature, without the knowledge of Christ, may come to heaven:i the assertion whereof, we condemn as a wicked Pelagian Socinian heresy: and think, that it was well said of Bernard; that many labouring to make Plato a Christian, do prove themselves to be Heathens: and if we look upon the several branches of this Arminian novel doctrine, extenuating the precious worth and necessity of faith in Christ: ⟨p. 119⟩we shall find them, hewed off by the two edged sword of Gods word.
It is true indeed, some of the ancient Fathers, before the rising of the Pelagian heresie; who had so put on Christ, as Lipsius speaks, that they had not fully put of Plato, have unadvisedly dropt some speeches, seeming to grant, that divers men before the Incarnation, living 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, according to the dictates of right reason, might be saved without faith in Christ: as is well shewed by learned Causabon, in his first excercitation on Baronius: but let this be accounted part of that stubble, which shall burne at the last day, wherewith the writings of all men, not divinely inspired may be stained: it hath also since, (as what hath not) been drawn into dispute among the wrangling Schoolemen: and yet, which is rarely seene, their verdict in this particular, almost unanimously passeth for the truth: