A90293:347
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.
Sixthly, internal grace, is by Divines distinguished into the first, or preventing grace, and the second following cooperating grace, the first is that spiritual, vital principle that is infused into us by the holy Spirit, that new creation, and bestowing of new strength, whereby we are made fit and able for the producing of spiritual acts to believe and yield Evangelical obedience: For we are the workmanship of God created ⟨p. 148⟩in Christ Jesus unto good works, Ephes. 2. 10. By this God gives us a new heart, and a new spirit he puts within us, he taketh the stony hearts out of our flesh, and gives us a heart of flesh, he puts his spirit within us, to cause us to walk in his statues, Ezek. 36. 26, 27.
Sixthly, internall grace, is by Divines distinguished into the first, or preventing grace, and the second following cooperating grace, the first is that spirituall, vitall principle that is infused into us by the holy Spirit, that new creation, and bestowing of new strength, whereby we are made fit and able for the producing of spirituall acts to beleeve and yeeld Evangelicall obedience: For we are the workmanship of God created ⟨p. 148⟩in Christ Iesus unto good workes, Ephes. 2. 10. By this God gives us a new heart, and a new spirit he puts within us, he taketh the stony hearts out of our flesh, and gives us a heart of flesh, he puts his spirit within us, to cause us to walke in his statues, Ezek. 36. 26, 27.
Now this first grace is not properly and formally a vital act, but causaliter only, in being a principle moving to such vital acts within us. It is, the habit of faith bestowed upon a man, that he may be able to elicate and perform the acts thereof; giving new light to the understanding, new inclinations to the will, and new affections unto the heart. For the infallible efficacy of which grace, it is that we plead against the Arminians, and amongst those innumerable places of holy Scripture confirming this truth, I shall make use only of a very few reduced to these three heads.