Doctrines of Grace and Justice
John Fletcher's treatise emerged from the heated theological controversies that divided eighteenth-century evangelicalism, particularly the bitter dispute between Calvinists and Arminians over predestination, free will, and the nature of salvation. As John Wesley's closest theological ally and eventual successor at the Foundery, Fletcher found himself defending Wesleyan theology against the attacks of prominent Calvinist ministers like Augustus Toplady and others who accused Arminians of undermining the doctrine of grace by emphasizing human responsibility.
Fletcher's central argument seeks to reconcile divine sovereignty with human accountability by distinguishing between different dispensations of God's dealings with humanity. He contends that God's grace operates through progressive stages—from the dispensation of the Father in the Old Testament, through the dispensation of the Son in the Gospels, to the dispensation of the Spirit in the present age. Within this framework, Fletcher argues that divine grace is both freely given and resistible, that human beings can cooperate with or reject God's saving work, and that this cooperation does not diminish the primacy of grace but rather demonstrates its effectiveness. He insists that justice and mercy are perfectly harmonized in God's character, rejecting both the Calvinist emphasis on unconditional election and the antinomian tendencies he saw as flowing from it.
The work became a cornerstone of Methodist theological identity and influenced Arminian thought well beyond Wesley's immediate circle. Fletcher's sophisticated engagement with Reformed theology, combined with his irenic spirit and careful biblical exegesis, provided Wesleyans with intellectual resources to defend their position in ongoing debates about salvation and sanctification.
Who should read this: Serious students of Methodist theology and eighteenth-century evangelical debates will find Fletcher's arguments essential for understanding the development of Arminian theology. Those seeking contemporary devotional reading or practical spiritual guidance should look elsewhere, as this remains a work of rigorous theological disputation.