A90293:325
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.
First, That we being by nature dead in trespasses and sins, have no power to prepare our selves, for the receiving of Gods grace: nor in the least measure to believe, and turn our selves unto him. Not that we deny, that there are any conditions, prerequired in us for our conversion, dispositions preparing us in some measure for our new birth or regeneration, but we affirm that all these also, are the effects of the grace of God, relating to that alone as their proper cause, for of our selves, Without him we can do nothing, Joh. 15. 15. We are not able of our selves to think any thing as of our selves, 2 Cor. 3. 5. much less do that which is good, in respect of that, every one of our mouths must be stopped, for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, Rom. 5. 19. 23. We are by nature the children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sins, Ephes. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 9. our new birth is a resurrection from death, wrought by the greatness of Gods power: and what ability I pray hath a dead man, to prepare himself for ⟨p. 137⟩for his resurrection? can he collect his scattered dust, or renew his perished senses? If the Leopard can change his spots, and the Ethiopian his skin, then can we do good who (by nature) are taught to do evil, Jerem. 13. 23. we are all ungodly, and without strength considered when Christ died for us, Rom. 5. 6. wise to do evil, but to do good, we have no strength, no knowledge. Yea, all the faculties of our souls, by reason of that spiritual death under which we are detained by the corruption of nature, are altogether useless in respect of any power, for the doing of that which is truly good; our understandings are blind or darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in us, because of the blindness of our hearts,