Appendix to the Hague Conference
Written in the aftermath of the Synod of Dort, this treatise by William Ames serves as both a theological capstone and a polemical defense of Reformed orthodoxy against Arminian challenges. The Synod had concluded in 1619 with the condemnation of Arminian theology, but debates continued to rage across the Dutch Reformed churches and beyond. Ames, writing as an English Puritan theologian deeply involved in Dutch ecclesiastical affairs, crafted this work as a "crown" or completion to the Hague Conference proceedings, systematically addressing lingering theological controversies.
Ames constructs his argument around the fundamental doctrines of grace, demonstrating how Arminian positions undermine the sovereignty of God in salvation. He methodically examines the nature of divine predestination, the extent of human depravity, the efficacy of Christ's atonement, the irresistibility of grace, and the perseverance of the saints. Rather than merely rehearsing familiar Reformed positions, Ames engages directly with Arminian objections, showing how their theology necessarily leads to a synergistic soteriology that compromises divine sovereignty. His approach combines rigorous scholastic method with pastoral concern, arguing that these doctrinal disputes have profound implications for Christian assurance and spiritual formation.
The Coronis established Ames as a major voice in post-Dort Reformed theology and influenced subsequent generations of Reformed scholastics, particularly in English Puritanism and New England theology. Its systematic treatment of predestination and grace provided a template for later Reformed polemics against Arminianism, while its integration of doctrinal precision with spiritual concern exemplified the Puritan synthesis of academic theology and practical piety.
Who should read this: Students of Reformed scholasticism and post-Reformation polemical theology will find essential material here, as will those studying the development of Puritan thought. This is not accessible reading for those unfamiliar with scholastic theological method or the specific controversies surrounding Arminianism and the Synod of Dort.