A90293:322
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, That for the reducing of this power into act, that men may become actual believers, there is no infused habit of grace, no spiritual vital principle necessary for them, or bestowed upon them, but every one by the use of his native endowments, do make themselves differ from others:d Those things which are spoken concerning the infusion of habits, before we can exercise the act of faith, we reject, saith the Epistle to the Walachrians: eThat the internal principle of faith required in the Gospel, is a habit divinely infused by the strength and efficacy whereof, the will should be determined, I deny, saith another of them. Well then? if we must grant, that the internal vital principle, of a supernatural spiritual grace, is a mere natural faculty not elevated by any divine habit? if it be not God that begins the good work in us, but our own free-wills, let us see what more goodly stuff will follow: one man by his own mere endeavours, without the aid of any received gift, makes himself differ from another:f What matter is it in that, that a man should make himself differ from others? there is nothing truer; he who yieldeth faith, to God commanding him maketh himself differ from him, who will not have faith when he commandeth, ⟨p. 135⟩they are the words of their Apology: which without question, is an irrefragable truth, if faith be not a gift received from above: for on that ground only the Apostle proposeth these questions, who made thee differ from another? or what hast thou that thou hast not received? and if thou hast received, why boasteth thou as if thou hast not received? the sole cause why he denies any one by his own power to make himself differ from another, is, because that wherein the difference consisteth, is, received, being freely bestowed upon him: deny this, and I confess the other will fall of it self. But until their authority, be equal with the Apostles, they would do well to forbear the naked obtrusions of assertions so contradictory to theirs; and so they would not trouble the Church, let them take all the glory unto themselves, as doth gGrevinchovius: