Grace and Freedom addresses the issue of divine grace in relation to the freedom of the will in Reformed or "Calvinist" theology in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. It focuses on the work of the English Reformed theologian William Perkins, especially his role as an apologist of the Church of England, defending its theology against the Roman Catholic polemic, and specifically against the charge that Reformed theology denies human free choice. Perkins and his Reformed contemporaries affirm that salvation occurs by grace alone and that God is the ultimate cause of all things, but they also insist on the freedom of the human will and specifically the freedom of choice in a way that does not conform to modern notions of "libertarian freedom" or "compatibilism." In developing this position, Perkins drew on the thought of Reformers such as Peter Martyr Vermigli and Zacharias Ursinus, on the nuanced positions of medieval scholastics, and several contemporary Roman Catholic representatives of the so-called "second scholasticism." His work was a major contribution to early modern Reformed thought both in England and on the continent. His influence in England extended both to the Reformed heritage of the Church of England and to English Puritanism. On the continent, his work contributed to the main lines of Reformed orthodoxy and to the piety of the Dutch Second Reformation.

About the Author
Richard A. Muller is Senior Fellow at Junius Institute for Digital Reformation Research and P. J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology Emeritus at Calvin Theological Seminary

Reviews
Grace and Freedom will be of interest to those contemplating the question of how free will and sovereign grace can coexist without contradiction and is essential reading for specialists in the field. * Andrew S. Ballitch, Westwood Alliance Church, Mansfield, Ohio, USA, Evangelical Quarterly *
This is a challenging and important book. Any historian who wants to discuss early modern Reformed thought competently will need to familiarise themselves with the conceptual landscape that Muller so ably maps out. * Matthew N. Payne, Journal of Ecclesiastical History *
The issue of God's grace and human freedom has been of ongoing importance to Christian theology. Muller's book examines this key point of contention between Reformed Protestants and Roman Catholicism. It also illuminates the Reformed orthodox understanding of free choice and whether modern terminology of "libertarianism" and "compatibilism" are legitimate ways to discuss Reformed viewpoints. * Donald K. McKim, Church History Reviews *
...[the book] ought to be read, and read with patience and care. Like all of Muller's works, Grace and Freedom repays such patience and care. I hope that beyond its contribution to Perkins studies and the historiographical debates with the Utrecht School, Helm, and others, this work will also signal the need, especially among the young, restless and reformed or new Calvinist types, for care and detailed attention to the Reformed tradition's understanding of nature and grace. * Joshua Schendel, Modern Reformation *
No-one has done more than Richard A. Muller to shape our approach to early modern historical theology ... [an] important new book * Crawford Gribben, New Books Network *



Book Information
ISBN 9780197517468
Author Richard A. Muller
Format Hardback
Page Count 244
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 517g
Dimensions(mm) 152mm * 236mm * 23mm