A90293:90
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.
First: it is laid down, as a firm foundation: that known unto God, are all his works, from the beginning of the world, Acts 15. 18. Every thing then, that in any respect may be called his work, is known unto him from all eternity: now, what in the world, if we may speak as he hath taught us, can be exempted from this denomination? even actions in themselves sinful; are not; though not as sinful, yet in some other regard, as punishments of others; Behold, saith Nathan, to David, (in ⟨p. 20⟩the name of God) I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives, in the sight of this sun: for thou diddest it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel: 2 Sam. 12, v. 11, 12. So also, when wicked robbers had nefariously spoiled Job of all his substance; the holy man concludeth, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: Job 1. 1. Now, if the working of Gods providence be so mighty, and effectual, even in, and over those actions, wherein the devil, and men, do most maliciously offend, as did Absalom, and the Sabean, with the Chaldean thieves, that it may be said to be his work, and he may be said to do it, (I crave liberty to use the Scripture phrase) then certainly nothing in the world, in some respect or other, is independent of his all-disposing hand: yea, Judas himself betraying our Saviour,1 did nothing, but what his hand and counsel before determined should be done, Acts. 4. 28. in respect of the event of the thing it self: and if these actions, notwithstanding these two hinderances, First, that they were contingent, wrought by free agents, working according to election and choice: Secondly, that they were sinful and wicked in the agents, had yet their dependence on his purpose and determinate counsel; surely, he hath an interest of operation in the acts of every creature; but his works, as it appears before, are all known unto him from the beginning: for he worketh nothing by chance, or accidentally, but all things determinately, according to his own decree, or the counsel of his own will: