Petrus Van Mastricht (1630-1706): Text, Context, and Interpretation (Reformed Historical Theology)

In the section on philosophy, Philip J. Fisk opens with acareful assessment of "Petrusv an Mastricht and Freedom of the Will," and suggests that Mastricht's disputations related to the freedom of the will is ab road and comprehensive framework for understanding essential arguments against the prominent opponents and movements that were challengingthe classic-Reformed tradition in that day. In the chapter, "Petrus vanMastricht and Descartes'sNew Philosophy," Yoshi Kato demonstrates that Mastricht'sl ife-long and systematic criticism of Cartesianism wasnot to offer anew version of Christian faith, but to express a profound concern with the theologia practica or praxis pietatis. This concern of Mastricht regarding Cartesianism is highlighted, furthermore, by Daniel J. Ragusa in the chapter, "Petrus vanM astricht's Ad Verum ClarissD .B althasaren Beckerum: Beginning with Scripture, Ending with Wo rship." Ragusa shows the importanceo fS cripture, exegesis, and practice for Mastricht in philosophical debates. The last section deals with the reception of Mastricht'sw ork-in the eighteenth-century Dutch Republic and New England. Brandon J. Crawfordshows in "Petrusv an Mastricht's AT reatise on Regeneration: An Old Wo rld Vo ice for a New Wo rld Controversy" the immediate historical and theological context of the English translation of the chapter on regeneration, published as AT reatise on Regeneration. Regarding the controversy between New England Congregationalism and Sandemanianism over matters of theology and practice, as well as the intramural theological debates within New England Congregationalism over the appropriateness of encouraging unregenerate persons to make use of the means of grace as preparatory steps toward regeneration, Mastricht'sw ork wasi ndispensable. The editor concludes this volume with a recent archival discovery of the thus-far unknown translator of the Dutch translation of the Theoretico-practica theologia as Beschouwende-Betrachtende Godtgeleertheidt (1748-1753), and its reception in the Dutch Republic. Finally, this volume stands as ag o-to resource for Mastricht-researchb y providing appendices containing "Petrusvan Mastricht: Chronology of Life and Wo rk,"" Petrus vanM astricht: Published works," and "Petrusv an Mastricht: Secondary Literature." In conclusion, aword of gratitude is offered, first of all, to all the contributors to this volume. Your collegiality, scholarship and friendship, as well as prompt keeping of publication deadlines has been much appreciated.W ew ish acknowledge Herman J. Selderhuis, the series editor for Reformed Historical Theology at Va ndenhoeck & Ruprecht, who wasi mmediately receptivea nd supportivet hroughout the publication this volume. Last but not least, Carl R. Trueman is acknowledged with gratitude for writing af oreword for this book. Petrus van Mastricht (1630–1706): Text, Context, and Interpretation »is not just a statement of the state of the art on Mastricht studies. It also points the way forward for further exploration of Mastricht's thought and the history of Reformed Orthodoxy in general« from the Preface by Carl R. Trueman. This volume presents collected essays from scholars around the world on various aspects of Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706) theology, philosophy, and reception in the context of the challenges of orthodoxy in his day. This book, then, locates Mastricht's ideas in the context of the theological and philosophical currents of his day. The pre-Revolutionary status of theology and philosophy in the wake of the Enlightenment had many of the same problems we see in theology today as relating to the use and appropriation of classical theology in a 21st-century context. Ideas about the necessity of classical primary sources of Christianity in sustaining Reformed theology are once again becoming important, and Mastricht has many insights in this area. The last thirty years have witnessed a remarkable revolution in the study of Reformed Orthodoxy, that broad movement of theological consolidation which took place in the two centuries between the early breakthroughs of the Reformation and the reorganization of intellectual disciplines within the university world heralded by the arrival of the various intellectual and cultural developments known collectively as the Enlightenment. The old models which tended to prioritize one or two figures in the Reformation. In place of this older scholarship, we now have a growing number of studies which seek to place Reformed thinkers of the period in a much wider context. One of the results of this is that serious scholarly attention is now being directed at figures who were previously neglected, such as Petrus van Mastricht, a German-Dutch theologian, who has emerged as significant voices in shaping the Christianity of his day. He was the author of a major system of divinity. This work is in the process of being translated into English (two volumes are available at the time of writing). Mastricht is also the subject of a growing body of literature in English, of which this volume is a fine example. The essays contained in book work represent precisely the range of scholarly interests that the new approach to Reformed Orthodoxy has come to embody. Dealing specifically with the areas of theology, philosophy, and reception, this book points toward three critical areas of study. "This volume presents collected essays from scholars around the world on various aspects of Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706) theology, philosophy, and reception in the context of the challenges of orthodoxy in his day. This book, then, locates Mastricht's ideas in the context of the theological and philosophical currents of his day. The pre-Revolutionary status of theology and philosophy in the wake of the Enlightenment had many of the same problems we see in theology today as relating to the use and appropriation of classical theology in a 21st-century context. Ideas about the necessity of classical primary sources of Christianity in sustaining Reformed theology are once again becoming important, and Mastricht has many insights in this area. The last thirty years have witnessed a remarkable revolution in the study of Reformed Orthodoxy, that broad movement of theological consolidation which took place in the two centuries between the early breakthroughs of the Reformation and the reorganization of intellectual disciplines within the university world heralded by the arrival of the various intellectual and cultural developments known collectively as the Enlightenment. The old models which tended to prioritize one or two figures in the Reformation. In place of this older scholarship, we now have a growing number of studies which seek to place Reformed thinkers of the period in a much wider context. One of the results of this is that serious scholarly attention is now being directed at figures who were previously neglected, such as Petrus van Mastricht, a German-Dutch theologian, who has emerged as significant voices in shaping the Christianity of his day. He was the author of a major system of divinity. This work is in the process of being translated into English (two volumes are available at the time of writing). Mastricht is also the subject of a growing body of literature in English, of which this volume is a fine example. The essays contained in book work represent precisely the range of scholarly interests that the new approach to Reformed Orthodoxy has come to embody. Dealing specifically with the areas of theology, philosophy, and reception, this book points toward three critical areas of study."--Provided by publisher ***Angaben zur beteiligten Person Neele: Dr. Adriaan C. Neele is Research Scholar at the Yale University, Jonathan Edwards Center and Professor of Historical Theology, Director of the Doctoral Program at the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary ***Angaben zur beteiligten Person McGraw: Ryan M. McGraw is Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Research Associate, Jonathan Edwards Centre, South Africa ***Angaben zur beteiligten Person Gwon: Gyeongcheol Gwon, Ph.D., is Lecturer in Church History at Kukje Theological University and Seminary in Seoul, Korea ***Angaben zur beteiligten Person Fisk: Philip J. Fisk is a Senior Researcher in Historical Theology at ETF Leuven, Belgium