A90293:311
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.
Let us now in the second place, look upon the power of our free-will, in doing that which is morally good: where we shall find not only an essential imperfection, in as much as it is created, but also, a contracted defect, in as much as it is corrupted: the ability which the Arminians ascribe unto it, in this kink, of doing that which is morally and spiritually good, is as large as themselves will confess to be competent unto it, in the state of innocency: even a power of believing, and a power of resisting the Gospel: of obeying, and not obeying: of turning, or of not being converted.
Let us now in the second place, looke upon the power of our free-will, in doing that which is morally good: where we shall finde not onely an essentiall imperfection, in as much as it is created, but also, a contracted defect, in as much as it is corrupted: the abilitie which the Arminians ascribe unto it, in this kinke, of doing that which is morally and spiritually good, is as large as themselves will confesse to be competent unto it, in the state of innocencie: even a power of beleeving, and a power of resisting the Gospel: of obeying, and not obeying: of turning, or of not being converted.
The Scripture, as I observed before, hath no such term at all, nor nothing equivalent unto it: but the expressions it useth, concerning our nature and all the faculties thereof, in this state of sin and unregeneration, seem to imply the quite contrary: as that we are in bondage: Heb. 2. 15. dead in sin: Ephes. 2. 3. and so free from righteousness, Rom. 6. servants of sin: ver. 16. under the reign and dominion thereof: vers. 12. all our members being instruments of unrighteousness: vers. 13. Not free indeed, until the Son make us free, so that this Idol of free-will, in respect of spiritual things, is not one whit better, then the other Idols of the heathen: Though it look like silver and gold, it is the work of mens hands, it hath a mouth, but it speaks not, it hath eyes but it sees not, it hath ears but it hears not, a nose but it smells not, it hath hands, but it handleth not, feet but it walks not, neither speaketh it through the throat, all they that made it, are like unto it, and so is every one, that trusteth in it: O Israel trust thou