A90293:330
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.
CHAP. XIIII.
Of our conversion to God.
How little or nothing at all it is that the Arminians assign to the grace of God, in performing the great work of our Conversion, may plainly appear from what I have showed already, that they ascribe to our own free-will: So that I shall briefly pass that over, which otherwise is so copiously delivered in holy Scripture, that it would require a far larger discussion. A prolix confirmation of the truth we profess, will not suit so well with my intention, which is merely to make a discovery of their errors, by not knowing the depths whereof, so many are deceived and inveigled.
HOw little or nothing at all it is that the Arminians assigne to the grace of God, in performing the great worke of our Conversion, may plainly appeare from what I have shewed already, that they ascribe to our owne free-will: So that I shall briefly passe that over, which otherwise is so copiously delivered in holy Scripture, that it would require a farre larger discussion. A prolixe confirmation of the truth we professe, will not suit so well with my intention, which is meerly to make a discovery of their errors, by not knowing the depths whereof, so many are deceived and inveigled.
Two things in this great conjunction of grace and nature, the Arminians ascribe unto Free-will: First, a power of co-operation and working with grace, to make it at all effectual. Secondly, a power of resisting its operation, and making it altogether in effectual: God in the mean time bestowing no grace, but what awaits an act issuing from one of these two abilities, and hath its effect accordingly. If a man will co-operate, then grace attains its end; if he will resist, it returns empty. To this end they feign all the grace of God bestowed upon us, for our conversion, to be but a moral persuasion by his word, not an infusion of a new vital principle by the powerful working of the holy Spirit. And indeed granting this, I shall most willingly comply with them, in assigning to Free-will one of the endowments before recited, a power of resisting the operation of grace: but instead of the other, must needs ascribe to our whole corrupted nature, and every one that is partaker of it, an universal disability of obeying it, or coupling in that work which God by his grace doth intend.