A90293:81
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.
THE prescience, or foreknowledge of God, hath not hitherto in express terms been denied by the Arminians, but only questioned, and overthrown by consequence: in as much as they deny the certainty and unchangeableness of his decrees, on which it is founded: it is not a foreknowledge of all, or any thing, which they oppose, but only, of things free and contingent: and that only to comply with their formerly exploded error, that the purposes of God concerning such things, are temporal and mutable; which obstacle being once removed, the way is open how to ascribe the presidentship of all humane actions, to omnipotent contingency, and her Sire Free-will: ⟨p. 15⟩Now, we call that contingent, which in regard of its next and immediate cause, before it come to pass, may be done, or may be, not done: as, that a man shall do such a thing to morrow, or any time hereafter: which he may choose whether ever he will do, or no. Such things as these are free and chanceable, in respect of men their immediate, and second causes, but if we (asa we ought to do) look up unto him who fore-seeth, and hath ordained the event of them, or their omission, they may be said necessarily to come to pass, or to be omitted: it could not be, but as it was: Christians hitherto, (yea andb Heathens) in all things of this nature, have usually upon their event, reflected on God, as one, whose determination was passed on them from eternity, and who knew them long before: as the killing of men by the fall of a house, who might in respect of the freedom of their own wills, have not been there: or if a man fall into the hands of thieves, we presently conclude, it was the will of God: it must be so, he knew it before.
THE praescience, or foreknowledge of God, hath not hitherto in expresse termes beene denied by the Arminians, but onely questioned, and overthrowne by consequence: in as much as they denie the certaintie and unchangeablenesse of his decrees, on which it is founded: it is not a foreknowledge of all, or any thing, which they oppose, but onely, of things free and contingent: and that onely to comply with their formerly exploded error, that the purposes of God concerning such things, are temporall and mutable; which obstacle being once removed, the way is open how to ascribe the presidentship of all humane actions, to omnipotent contingencie, and her Sire Free-will: