The subject of debate in this particular volume (composed as a letter to John Henry Newman, former leading figure of the Oxford Movement) is the Virgin Mary and the doctrines put forth concerning her. Specifically, Pusey defends the ancient doctrine of her as Theotokos (“God-bearer”), as affirmed at the fourth Ecumenical Councils of the undivided Early Church, but also makes the case that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception as put forth by Rome is theory and speculation, and as it may not be proved it ought not to be required of any man to be believed.
In 1845, after a long personal struggle over the validity of Anglican Orders, Newman converted to Roman Catholicism. From that point forward, most of the relationships that continued between Newman and his Oxford Movement peers were at best strained. This was particularly the case with Pusey. However, following a chance meeting, they began a dialogue in letters to one another, in which Newman tried to convert Pusey to the doctrines of Rome, and Pusey continued to resist such conversion and rather hold fast to his fight for the ancient Faith within Anglicanism. This volume is one such letter.
Well-researched and documented, Pusey’s work cites key figures on all sides of the debate, and appeals to the Fathers to support his argument. These include Augustine, Chrysostom, Ambrose, Alcuin, and John of Damascus. Also included is a section of analyses of various passages of Scripture, designed to build the case that the method of transmission of Original Sin remains a mystery.