John Owen on Justification Controversies

“The truth is, so far as I can discern, the real difference that is at this day amongst us, about the doctrine of our justification before God, is the same that was between the apostle and the Jews, and no other.  But controversies in religion make a great appearance of being new, when they are only varied and made different by the new terms and expressions that are introduced into the handling of them.  So hath it fallen out in the controversy about nature and grace; for as unto the true nature of it  it is the same in these days as it was between the apostle Paul and the Pharisees; between Austin and Pelagius afterward.  But it hath now passed through so many forms and dresses of words, as that it can scarce be known to be what it was. Many at this day will condemn both Pelagius and the doctrine he taught, in the words wherein he taught it, and yet embrace and approve of the things themselves which he intended.  The introduction of every change in philosophical learning gives an appearance of change in the controversies which are managed thereby; but take off the covering of philosophical expressions, distinctions, metaphysical notions, and futilous terms of art, which some of the ancient schoolmen and later disputants have cast upon it, and the difference about grace and nature is amongst us the same that it was of old.”