A90293:61
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. II.
Of the eternity and immutability of the decrees of Almighty God, denied and overthrown by the Arminians.
Of the eternitie and immutabilitie of the decrees of Almightie God, denied and overthrown by the Arminians.
IT hath been always believed among Christians, and that upon infallible grounds, as I shall show hereafter, that all the decrees of God, as they are internal, so they are eternal acts of his will, and therefore unchangeable, and irrevocable: mutable decrees, and occasional resolutions, are most contrary, to the pure nature, of Almighty God: such principles as these, evident, and clear, by their own light, were never questioned, by any, before the Arminians began, [Greek or Hebrew], and to profess themselves, to delight, in opposing common notions of reason, concerning God and his essence, that they might exalt themselves into his throne: to ascribe the least mutability, to the divine essence, with which, all the attributes, and internal free acts of God, are ⟨p. 6⟩one and the same,1 was ever accounted [Greek or Hebrew] transcendent Atheism, in the highest degree: now be this crime of what nature it will, it is no unjust imputation, to charge it on the Arminians, because, they confess themselves guilty, and glory in the crime.
IT hath been alwayes beleeved among Christians, and that upon infallible grounds, as I shall shew hereafter, that all the decrees of God, as they are internall, so they are eternall acts of his will, and therefore unchangeable, and irrevocable: mutable decrees, and occasionall resolutions, are most contrary, to the pure nature, of Almightie God: such principles as these, evident, and cleere, by their own light, were never questioned, by any, before the Arminians began, , and to professe themselves, to delight, in opposing common notions of reason, concerning God and his essence, that they might exalt themselves into his throne: to ascribe the least mutabilitie, to the divine essence, with which, all the attributes, and internall free acts of God, are