The True Protestant Position.
The Bible and the Bible Only.
THE Bible, I say, the Bible only, is the religion of Protestants!" Nor is it of any account in the estimation of the genuine Protestant HOW EARLY a doctrine originated, if it is not found in the Bible. He learns from the New Testament itself that there were errors in the time of the apostles, and that their pens were frequently employed in combating those errors. Hence if a doctrine be propounded for his acceptance, he asks, Is it to be found in the inspired word? Was it taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles? If they knew nothing of it, no matter to him whether it be discovered in the musty folio of some ancient visionary of the third or fourth century, or whether it spring from the fertile brain of some modern visionary of the nineteenth, if it is not found in the sacred Scriptures, it presents no valid claim to be received as an article of his religious creed. . . . The great question at issue between popery and Protestantism is this: Is the Bible only to be received as the rule of faith, or THE BIBLE AND TRADITION TOGETHER? Is no doctrine to be received as matter of faith unless it is found in the Bible, or may a doctrine be received upon the mere authority of tradition, when it is confessedly not to be found in the sacred Scriptures? The whole Christian world, both nominal and real, are divided by this question into two great divisions: The consistent and true-hearted Protestant, standing upon this rock, "THE BIBLE AND THE BIBLE ONLY," can admit no doctrine upon the authority of tradition; the papist and the Puseyite place tradition side by side with the Bible, and listen to its dictates with a reverence equal to, or even greater than, that which they pay to the sacred Scriptures themselves; and he who receives a single doctrine upon this mere authority of tradition, let him be called by what name he will, by so doing steps down from the Protestant rock, passes over the line which separates Protestantism from popery, and can give no valid reason why he should not receive all the earlier doctrines and ceremonies of Romanism upon the same authority.—Darling, "History of Romanism," Book 1, p. 67. From the Protestant Episcopal Church, Thirty-nine Articles.
"Art. VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.—Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the church." From the Regular Baptists
As Expressed by the Baptist Convention of New Hampshire.
"1. Of the Scriptures.—We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its Author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions, should be tried." From the Articles of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
"Art. V. The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. By the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church." From the Evangelical Lutheran Church—Art. I.
From the Andover Orthodox Creed.
The Belief of Congregationalists.
"The word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is the only perfect rule of faith and practise." From the Presbyterian Confession of Faith.
"The Bible contains the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, or man's salvation, faith, and life." From the "Advance Almanac" for 1894 and Manual of Congregationalism.
V. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the record of God's revelation of Himself in the work of redemption; that they are written by men under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit; that they are able to make wise unto salvation; and that they constitute the authoritative standard by which religious teaching and human conduct are to be regulated and judged.—Page 56, Creed of 1883. Wesley on the Scriptures.
"From an infant thou hast known the Holy Scriptures—of the Old Testament. These only were extant when Timothy was an infant. Which are able to make thee wise unto salvation thru faith—in the Messiah that was to come. How much more are the Old and New Testaments together able, in God's hand, to make us more abundantly wise unto salvation, even such a measure of present salvation as was not known before Jesus was glorified." The Rule of the Man of God.
"ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. The Rule of the Romanist.
"If we would have the whole rule of Christian faith and practise, we must not be content with those scriptures which Timothy knew from his infancy, that is, with the Old Testament alone; nor yet with the New Testament, without taking along with it the TRADITIONS OF THE APOSTLES, and the INTERPRETATION OF THE CHURCH, to which the apostles delivered both the book and the true meaning of it."—Note of the Douay Bible in 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.