Mozley: A Treatise on the Augustinian Doctrine of

46 The Pelagian Controversy. CUAP. m.
CHAPTER III.
THE PELAGIAN CONTROVERSY.
FROM a general introductory statement and examination of
the argument of I
predestination,
turn now to the history
and formation of this doctrine as exhibited in S. Augustine s
writings. And as the Augustinian scheme of predestination
rests upon the basis of original sin, the inquiry will suitably
commence with an account of the latter doctrine. I shall
therefore devote the present chapter to a general sketch of
the mode in which it
the :
Pelagian controversy First,
arose ; secondly, the main arguments involved in it ; and,
thirdly, its bearing upon the leading doctrines of Christi
anity. Antagonist systems moreover throw light upon each
other, and an inquiry into the doctrines of S. Augustine
will be aided by a previous account of the system of
Pelagianism.
I. It may seem at first sight unnecessary to inquire into
the mode in which the Pelagian controversy arose, because
it appears enough to say that one side maintained, and an
other denied, the fall of man. But the doctrine of the fall
though substantially, did not expressly or by name, form
the original subject of dispute, but was led up to by a
previous question.
It has been disputed whether the Augustinian system
was a reaction from the Pelagian, or the Pelagian from
the Augustinian. Historical evidence favours the latter
assertion. 1 But the dispute, whichever way decided, is not
an important one. The controversy between these two was
contained in an elementary statement of Christian doctrine,
which, as soon as it came to be examined intellectually,
was certain to disclose it. The language by which the
Christian church has always expressed the truths of man s
freewill and Divine grace has been, that the one could do
no good thing without the aid of the other, nihil bonum
1 NOTE IX.