The Signs of the Times, vol. 11

January 29, 1885

“The Principles of Protestantism” The Signs of the Times 11, 5, pp. 73, 74.

IN our article last week on the California Sunday Law discussion, we were led to ask the question, In what single thing do Protestants now protest against the work of the papal church? We now propose to follow up that inquiry. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.1

“Protestant—One who protests. Especially a Christian who protests against the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.”—Webster. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.2

“Protestants—Is a collective name for all genuine believers in evangelical Christianity—those who protest against the errors and renounce the communion of the Romish Church.”—McClintock and Strong. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.3

The term Protestants was first applied in derision to the princes and delegates of the Reformed faith, who, in 1529, entered their protest against the decrees of the second diet of Spires; and that term was extended from those who signed the protest, to all who embraced the fundamental principle involved in it. The principle is this:— SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.4

“The Bible is not to be interpreted and used according to tradition, or use, and wont; but to be explained by means of itself, its own language and connection. This doctrine—that the Bible explained independently of all external tradition, is the sole authority in all matters of faith and discipline—is really the foundation-stone of the Reformation.”—McClintock and Strong. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.5

“The bold voices of all the Reformers soon proclaimed this powerful principle, at the sound of which Rome is destined to crumble away. ‘Christians receive no other doctrines than those which are founded on the express words of Jesus Christ, his apostles and prophets. No man, no assembly of doctors, are entitled to prescribe new doctrines.’”—D’Aubigne, Reformation, Book 2, chap. 7. “Luther then vigorously proceeds to lay down the fundamental principles of the Reformation—The word of God, the whole word of God, and nothing but the word of God.”—Id., Book 3, chap. 9. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.6

“‘The Scripture, without any commentary,’ says he on another occasion, ‘is the sun from which all teachers receive light.’ Such are the principles of Christianity and the Reformation. According to these venerable words, we are not to take the Fathers in order to throw light on Scripture, but Scripture to throw light on the Fathers. The Reformers and the apostles held up the word of God alone for light, just as they held up the sacrifice of Christ alone for righteousness. To attempt to mix up human authority with the absolute authority of God, or human righteousness with this ‘perfect righteousness of Christ, is to corrupt Christianity in its two foundations. Such are the two fundamental heresies of Rome, heresies, moreover, which some teachers would fain introduce, though, doubtless, in a modified form, into the bosom of the Reformation.”—Id., Book 9, chap. 5. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.7

These fundamental principles, and these words of the illustrious historian, are appropriate to-day, and will be even to the end of the world. The Reformation of the sixteenth century was not simply for Europe and the sixteenth century alone, but it must extend to all nations and be for all time. Says D’Aubigne, “The Reformation is Jesus Christ.” And as Christ liveth ever, so the Reformation will be a living, practical movement while the world stands. Protestantism is Jesus Christ; and as the papacy stands arrayed against Christ till the time comes that the saints possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:21, 22), even so Protestantism will be a living, active principle with those who serve Christ, till the day that he comes, and his saints enter into his everlasting kingdom. The last of the saints of God who live in the world, and who leave the world alive, are those who carry on the most persistent protest against the papacy and its allies. And when they leave the world, singing a song that no man can learn but they, it is the song of “victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.” Revelation 15:2. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.8

From the fundamental principles above given, it is plain that Protestantism is not simply a negation. It does not rest simply upon a denial of certain dogmas of the papacy, but it goes at once to the root of the whole matter, in the assertion that “the word of God, the whole word of God, and nothing but the word of God,” is the rule of faith and practice for the human race. To affirm this proposition is to deny in toto the principles of the papacy. This was the intent of the proposition when it was first stated; this was the effect of it; so it was then understood by the papacy, and so it is still. To assert this was the strongest protest that the assembled princes and delegates could make on April 19, 1529; it is the strongest protest that can now be made. Protestantism, therefore, is not a negation, except as it is involved in an affirmation; and the force of the negation is proportionate to the power of the affirmation. He who the most consistently, and the most earnestly, affirms this proposition, is the strongest Protestant, the greatest reformer, and stands nearest to Christ. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.9

And this is just the obligation that is laid upon every one who becomes a servant of God and of Christ. The perfection of this declaration is the gaol that must, and will, be reached by that people who get “the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.” “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.” Isaiah 43:10-12. “And ye shall be witnesses unto me,” said Christ. Acts 1:8. When a man amongst men is called to be a witness, he is sworn to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth;” and shall the Lord require less in this respect than is required by man? Christ says: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” John 18:37. But he is not alone in this; read again this verse from Isaiah, “Ye are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen.” Since Christ left the world, his servants are his witnesses, and witnesses of God, bearing witness to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. “Pilate saith unto him, What is the Truth?” and did not wait for an answer. However, the question is answered for all, in the prayer of Jesus, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” John 17:17. Therefore, as the word of God is truth, and we are his witnesses, we must, in precept and practice, testify to the word of God, the whole word of God, and nothing but the word of God. Every Christian, therefore, must, in the very nature of the case, be a Protestant. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.10

We read again: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. Mark, he does not say, “by some of the words,” nor “by the words,” but, “by every word.” This takes all of the word of God. The word of God was all written for our learning, “that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Again, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it.” “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32. “Every word of God is pure.... Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5, 6. We see therefore, again, that the Lord demands of us that we do all that he has commanded, neither less nor more. We are not to add to his word, nor diminish aught from it. Now when any man, or any act of men, practice, or teach others to practice, less than the Lord has commanded, i.e., to refuse, and teach others to refuse to do what the Lord has commanded, they virtually “take away” from the word of God. And when such do, and teach others to do, as duty toward God, anything that the Lord has not commanded, they virtually “add to” the word of God. How much more, then, when they strive for the enactment of penal laws, by which to compel people to do that for which they themselves declare there is no command of God. Such are not Protestants, such are not reformers, such are not the servants of God. SITI January 29, 1885, page 73.11

In view of these principles, is it not proper for every one to inquire, Am I a Protestant? Am I a true witness of God and of Christ? SITI January 29, 1885, page 74.1

Further inquiry next week, if the Lord will. ALONZO T. JONES. SITI January 29, 1885, page 74.2