A90293:87
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.
Secondly,q they affirm, that God is said properly to expect, and desire, divers things, which yet never come to pass: we grant saith Corvinus, that there are desires in God, that never are fulfilled: now surely to desire what one is sure, will never come to pass is not an act regulated by wisdom, or counsel: and therefore they must grant, that before, he did not know, but perhaps so it might be:r God wisheth and desireth some good things, which yet come not to pass, say they, in their confession: whence one, of these two things, must needs follow: either first, that there is a great deal of imperfection in his nature, to desire, and expect, what he knows shall never come to pass: or else, he did not know but it might; which overthrows his prescience: yea, and say they expressly,s That the hope, and expectation of God, is deceived by man: and confess, that the strength, of their strongest argument; lies in this, that God hoped, and expected, obedience from Israel. Secondly, that he complaineth that his hope is deluded: which being taken properly, and as they urge it, cannot consist with his eternal prescience. For they dis-esteem the usual answer of Divines, that hope, expectation, and such like passions, which include in them any imperfection, are ascribed unto God per [Greek or Hebrew], in regard of that analogy, his actions hold with such of ours, as we perform having those passions.
Secondly,q they affirme, that God is said properly to expect, and desire, divers things, which yet never come to passe: we grant saith Corvinus, that there are desires in God, that never are fulfilled: now surely to desire what one is sure, will never come to passe is not an act regulated by wisdome, or counsell: and therefore they must grant, that before, he did not know, but perhaps so it might be:r God wisheth and desireth some good things, which yet come not to passe, say they, in their confession: whence one, of these two things, must needs follow: either first, that there is a great deale of imperfection in his nature, to desire, and expect, what he knowes shall never come to passe: or else, he did not know but it might; which overthrowes his praescience: yea, and say they expressely,