My intention in this weak endeavour (which is but the undigested issue of a i&\f broken hours, too many causes, in these furious malignant days, continually in- terrupting the course of my studies), is but to stir up such who, having more leisure and greater abilities, will not as yet move a finger to help [to] vindicate oppressed truth.
In the meantime, I hope this discovery may not be unuseful, especially to such who, wanting either will or abilities to peruse larger discourses, may yet be allured by their words, which are smoother than oil, to taste the poison of asps that is under their lips. Satan hath p>oiPt) ko) f^t^ohia;, depths where to hide, and methods how to broach his lies; and never did any of his emissaries employ his received talents with more skill and diligence than our Arminians, labouring earnestly, in the first j^lace, to instil some errors that are most plausible, intending chiefly an introduction of them that are more palpable, knowing that if those be for a time suppressed until these be well digested, they will follow of their own accord. Wherefore, I have endeavoured to lay open to the view of all some of their foun- dation-errors, not usually discussed, on which the whole inconsistent superstruc- ture is erected, whereby it will appear how, under a most vain pretence of farther- ing piety, they have prevaricated against the vei-y grounds of Christianity; wherein, —
First, I have not observed the same method in handling each particular con- troversy, but followed such several ways as seemed most convenient to clear the truth and discover their heresies.
Secondly, Some of their errors I have not touched at all, — as those concerning universal grace, justification, the final apostasy of true believers, — because they came not within the compass of my proposed method, as you may see chap, i., where you have the sum of the whole discourse.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. 9
Thirdly. I have given some instances of their opposing the received doctrine of the church of England, contained in divers of the Thirty-nine Articles ; which would it did not yield us just cause of farther complaint against the iniquity of those times whereinto we were lately fallen! Had a poor Puritan offended against half so many canons as they opposed articles, he had forfeited his livelihood, if not endangered his life. I would I could hear any other probable reason why divers prelates were so zealous for the discipline and so negligent of the doctrine of the church, but because the one was reformed by the word of God, the other remain- ing as we found it in the times of Popery.
Foui'thly, I have not purposely undertaken to answer any of their arguments, referring that labour to a farther design, even a clearing of our doctrine of re- probation, and of the administration of God's providence towards the reprobates, and over all their actions, from those calumnious aspersions they cast upon It ; but concerning this, I fear the discouragements of these woful days will leave me nothing but a desire that so necessary a work may find a more able pen.
John Owen.
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A DISPLAY OF ARMINIANISM.
2TN ©En.
CHAPTER I.
Of the two main ends aimed at by the Arminians, by their innovations in the received doctrine of the reformed churches.
The soul of man, by reason of the coiniption of nature, is not only darkened ^ with a mist of ignorance, whereby he is disenabled for the comprehending of divine truth, but is also armed with prejudice and opposition against some parts thereof,^ which are either most above or most contrary to some false principles which he hath framed unto himself As a desire of self-sufficiency was the first cause of this infirmity, so a conceit thereof is that wherewith he still languisheth; nothing doth he more contend for than an independency of any su- preme power, which might either help, hinder, or control him in his actions. This is that bitter root from whence have sprung all those heresies^ and wretched contentions which have troubled the church, concerning the power of man in working his own happiness, and his exemption from the over-ruling providence of Almighty God. All which wrangling disputes of carnal reason against the word of God come at last to this head, Whether the first and chiefest part, in dis- posing of things in this world, ought to be ascribed to God or man? Men for the most part have vindicated this pre-eminence unto them- selves,^ by exclamations that so it must be, or else that God is un- just, and his ways unequal. Never did any men, " postquam Chris- tiana gens esse crepit,"' more eagerly endeavour the erecting of this Babel than the Arminians, the modern blinded patrons of human self-sufficiency ; all whose innovations in the received doctrine of the reformed churches aim at and tend to one of these two ends : —