Modern Preface
Modern Preface [Monergism Books note: The following preface describes William H.
Gross's earlier edition. Its references to superscripted Scripture citations, colored editorial notes, and earlier formatting describe that edition's presentation. In this edition, Scripture references and notes have been reformatted for the Monergism EPUB while Gross's preface remains in its original wording.] This is a modernized version of Owen's original work. You may reproduce the text so long as you do not change it and you do not sell it to anyone. This restriction is placed on it so that the propagation of any errors in the updated language is limited. Let any errors remain mine.
The old English wording has been updated, so that "thee" and "thou" are now "you" and "yours." American spelling has been employed. Scripture references have been shortened. The difficult structure and syntax have been simplified. Little-used words have been replaced with simpler ones or footnoted. Referenced but unquoted scriptures are footnoted or superscripted for your convenience. The original editor notes are in black; added explanatory notes are in blue.
Extra phrases have been removed. Sentences have been shortened, and in many cases split into several sentences for clarity. Footnote numbers were moved to the end of each quote. Parallelism has been used to maintain rhythm and clarity. Unreferenced pronouns are now referenced; missing words which were understood, are made explicit. iii
The passive voice has been changed to active in some places. This is not a synopsis, but the entire treatise presented in the original work.
Arminianism won the battle for the hearts and minds of Americans in the Old West, riding on the back of John Wesley's Methodism. The democratic nature of Arminianism (one man, one vote) fit nicely with the democratic ideals of the new nation.1 It provides common ground between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics (as evidenced by ECT), and from there flows a penchant for political power. Yet in Owen's day, that combination of church and state was deadly. The Great Ejection of 1662 erupted from the Act of Uniformity. It forced our Puritan forebears to seek religious freedom in the American colonies. We have forgotten our roots, and the danger which any government poses to our religious convictions whenever the limiting Rule of Law is replaced by the arbitrary Rule of Men. Arminianism is driven by a fleshly desire to be free of God's sovereignty, and to rule our own destiny. But Arminianism merely returns us to the Garden, where we are worse off than weak Adam, for our corruption replaces his innocence. What better time to recall Owen's ancient warnings than with this, his first major treatise?
Arminianism today has a firm hold on Evangelicalism. It is considered an "alternative" gospel rather than "another" gospel. That's because in its Wesleyan form, it is three-point Calvinism, which is a confused mixture at best.2 But its fleshly lust for independence hasn't changed. Owen saw it as a lie of Satan – as tasty bait set forth by the Arminian Roman Catholics to draw those wayward Protestants back into the Roman fold. Perhaps not much has changed since his day.
As with other works of Owen which I've modernized, I make no apologies for altering his text. My purpose is not to preserve Owen's original wording as if it were Scripture, but to preserve his teaching and wisdom, simplified and annotated. It would be a shame not to benefit from his labors, just because his language is too complex or outdated to readily comprehend. iv
William H. Gross © May 2012 – www.onthewing.org v