English Hypothetical Universalism: John Preston and the Softening of Reformed Theology

John Preston (1587-1628) stands as a key figure in the development of English Reformed orthodoxy in the courts of Elizabeth I and James VI. Often cited as a favorite of the English and American Puritans who came after him, he nevertheless stood as a bridge between the crown and the nonconformists. Jonathan D. Moore retrieves Preston from his traditional place as one of the “Calvinists against Calvin,” provides a convincing argument for Preston’s unique hypothetical universalism, and calls into question common misperceptions about Reformed theology and Puritanism.