A90293:92
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.
Thirdly: the Scriptureb is full of expressions to this purpose, to wit; That God knoweth all secrets, and revealeth hidden things: he searcheth the reins, and the heart: he knoweth the number of the stars: and the birds of the air: the lilies of the field the falling of sparrows, the number of the hairs of our heads: some places are most remarkable, as that of the Psalmist, He knoweth my thoughts long before: even before ever they come into our minds, before their first rising; and yet many actions that are most contingent, depend upon those thoughts known unto God from eternity: nay, which breaketh the very neck of the goddess contingency, those things wherein her greatest power is imagined to consist, are directly ascribed unto God: as our words the answer of the tongue, Prov. 16. 1. the directing of an arrow, shot by chance, to a mark not aimed at, 1 King. 22. 34. Surely God must needs foreknow the event of that contingent action; he must needs know the man would so shoot who had determined his arrow should be the death of a King: He makes men poor and rich: Prov. 22. 1. He lifteth up one, and pulleth down another: Psal. 75. How many contingencies did [Greek or Hebrew], his piercing eye run through, to foresee the crowning of Esther, for the deliverance of his people: In a word; known unto God are all his works: now what can possibly be imagined to be more contingent, then the killing of a man by the fall of an axe from out of his hand, who intended no such thing; yet this God assumeth as his own work: Exod. 21. 13. Deut. 9. v. 4, 5. and so surely was by him foreknown.
Thirdly: the Scriptureb is full of expressions to this purpose, to wit; That God knoweth all secrets, and revealeth hidden things: he searcheth the reines, and the heart: he knoweth the number of the starres: and the birds of the ayre: the lillies of the field the falling of sparrowes, the number of the haires of our heads: some places are most remarkable, as that of the Psalmist, He knoweth my thoughts long before: even before ever they come into our minds, before their first rising; and yet many actions that are most contingent, depend upon those thoughts known unto God from eternitie: nay, which breaketh the very neck of the goddesse contingencie, those things wherein her greatest power is imagined to consist, are directly ascribed unto God: as our words the answer of the tongue,