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The Principles of Protestantism

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The Principles of Protestantism a /. -^7. 2 JTrom tlyp ICtbrary of tl^p Htbrarg of Pnnr^ton Siipnbgtral g^^mtttary BX 4810 .L56 1898 Lilley, James Phillip, 1846 The principles of Protestantism / — — — BY THE SAME AUTHOR. In crown 8uo, price 5s., THE LORD'S SUPPER: By the Rev. J. P. LILLEY, M.A., Arbroath. "Mr. Lilley supplies us with an excellent and much-needed book. Altogether the volume can be cordially recommended to all who seek clear and reasonable views on the Sacrament."— Professor Marcu.s Dods, D.D., in the Expositof, "This is a seasonable piece of work, well and ihoroughlj- done. There is an underlying glow of genuine devotional feeling which adds to the attractiveness of the book." Critical Review. " We give the book our sincere and hearty recommendation, as one that is likely to prove helpful to those who desire to serve God with the spirit and the understanding." Primitive Methodist Magazine. "A good volume on an important subject ; fresh, clear, full, reverent, and scholarly. We have much pleasure in recommending it as a valuable restatement of great facts and truths which need to be constantly restated." United Presbyterian Magazine. "An intelligent, thorough, and scriptural discussion of the whole question. " Christian Covaiwnwealth. Edinburgh : T. & T. CLARK, 3S George Street. HANDBOOK^ JUL ?7i922 FOR BIBLE CLASS ES AND PRIVATE STUDENTS EDITED BY PROFESSOR MARCUS DODS, D.D. AND REV. ALEXANDER WHYTE, D.D. THE PRINCIPLES OF PROTESTANTISM EDINBURGH T. & T. CLARK, 38 GEORGE STREET THE PRINCIPLESof fny?7>. OF ( JUL C/1922 PROTESTAN T^fe^^ / AN EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES AND THE CHURCH OF ROME 7 Rev. J. P. XILLEY, M.A. ARBROATH EDINBURGH T. & T. CLARK, 38 GEORGE STREET 1898 PRINTED BY MORRISON AND GIBB LIMITED, I-OR T. & T. CLARK, EDINBURGH. LONDON : SIMl'KIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, AND CO. LIMITED. NEW YORK : CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS. TORONTO : FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY. PREFACE This handbook has been prepared as a companion to Dr. T. M. Lindsay's on The Reformation. The aim of that volume was to set forth the historic origin of Protestantism in Europe : the present is designed to exhibit its leading doctrines as they took shape in the Reformed Churches in opposition to those of the Church of Rome. speaking, Protestantism has but one great principle, Strictly [ namely, the right of direct access to God through Christ His Son. [ This is its ultimate idea. But when it came into conflict with the views of the Roman theologians, like all fundamental ideas, it threw out branches in various directions ; so that, as I have tried to show in the Introduction, it may now be said with truth that Protestant- ism has three master principles, leading to differences from the the Church of Rome on the whole evangelic method of salvation, / word of God and the fellowship of believers. In endeavouring to e.xpound and illustrate these contrasts, I have, of course, used the authoritative sources of information on both sides. The Decrees and Canons of the Council of Trent, its Catechism and the Creed of Pope Pius iv. are still acknowledged by the Church of Rome as her leading statements of doctrine. Constant reference has been made to these authorities. But it has also been found necessary for a complete view of her teaching to show how these are reflected in the expositions of eminent divines, like Bellarmin, Mohler, Perrone, and Newman. For this same purpose, frequent vill PREFACE use has been made of one of the most recent and candid expositions of Roman Cathohc doctrine issued in this country, namely, Tlie Outlines Dogmatic Theology, of by Father S. J. Hunter, the present Professor of Theology in Stonyhurst College (Stonyhurst Series, 3 vols., Longmans & Co., 1895-96). The chief authorities on the Protestant side are the Confessions of the Refoi-med Churches ; and of these, the Augsburg Confession, the Westminster .Standards, and the Articles of the Church of England, have been most frequently referred to. But particular doctrines have been illustrated from the writings, not only of the Reformers, Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli and Calvin, but also of prominent theologians of modern times. As a former student of the New College, Edinburgh, I could not avoid attaching great weight to the discussions of Protestant doctrine found in the works of Principal W. Cunningham. He is, perhaps, the only Scottish theologian that ever thoroughly mastered this field. I can conceive nothing more helpful to students than a thorough acquaintance with his supremely able lectures. The limits of a handbook did not permit me to give all the references to other literature 1 have used. Special acknowledgment will be found in connection with quotations. For knowledge of the most recent German literature on Protestantism I have to express my indebtedness to Professor Carl Mirbt of Marburg. His own Quelleii ziir Geschichte dcs Pnpstiiims (Leipzig, 1895) has been con- stantly in my hands. It gives the original form of the Decrees and Canons of Trent, with much additional matter, and is invaluable to every student of the subject. The method and spirit of the exposition will, 1 trust, be bene- ficial to teachers and students. It cannot be said that there is any lack of manuals on the Protestant controversy. The chief defect in them, so far as my judgment goes, is that they are for the most part merely negative or destructive in their aim. The majority of them seem designed simply to "expose" the errors of Romanism without exhibiting in any adequate fashion the corresponding truth. It is an additional fault that this work is often done in a spirit of narrowness and bitterness that does not appear perfectly consistent PREFACE IX with the ends of Christian controversy. In the present manual, I have sought to avoid these snares. While indicating plainly enough the origin and progress of what we believe to be the errors of the Church of Rome, I have endeavoured to make these the starting- point of a careful and complete statement of the evangelical Pro- testant position and the grounds on which it is based. I have also tried to couch the exposition in language that shall approve itself as alike accurate, impartial and temperate. If this method does not actually convert our opponents, it may at least conciliate them to give our Protestant Evangel a more patient and charitable hearing. With this result at the outset we may well be content. The truth will do the rest. J. P. L. Arbroath, June 1898. — CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF PROTESTANTISM .... I PART I THE GOSPEL OF PROTESTANTISM DIFFERENCES CONCERNING THE EVANGELIC APPLICATION OF THE TRUTH—THE MATERIAL PRINCIPLE CHAI'. I. THE STATE OF MAN AS CREATED II II. THE CONDITION OF MAN AS FALLEN—ORIGINAL SIN . I7 III. THE INABILITY OF MAN THROUGH SIN —THE ST.^TE OF THE UNREGENERATE 24 IV. SIN IN RELATION TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE .... 32 \. THE .METHOD OF CHRISTIANITY—REPENTANCE AND FAITH . 38 VI. THE PRIMARY BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL—FORGIVENESS JUSTIFICATION 4$ Vir. REGENERATION—THE -STATE OF THE REGENERATE—POST- BAPTISMAL SIN 57 VIII. THE HIGHER BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL 67 I.\. GOOD WORKS 74 X. THE STATE AFTER DEATH—PURG.\TORY 84 xi Xll CONTENTS PART II THE CHARTER OF PROTESTANTISM DIFFERENCES CONCERNING THE SOURCE OF TRUTH—THE FORMAL PRINCIPLE CHAI'. PAGE I. THE CONTENTS AND USE Ol-' THE SCRIPTURES • • • 95 II. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN lOWARDS THE SCRIPTURES I02 III. THE SOURCE OF CERTAINTY RESPIXTING THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES Ill IV. THE PERSPICUITY OF SCRIPTURE II9 V. THE PERFECTION OF SCRIPTURE 127 VI. THE PERFECTION OF SCRIPTURE—TRADITION {continuation) . 1 38 VII. THE DOCTRINAL STUDY OF SCRIl'TUKF.—THE THEORY OF DE- VELOPMENT 145 PART III THE POLITY OF PROTESTANTISM DIFFERENCES CONCERNING THE ECCLESIASTICAL EMBODI- MENT OF THE TRUTH—THE SOCIAL PRINCIPLE I. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH 159 II. THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 170 III. THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH 178 IV. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH—THEIR NATURE AND NUMBER 187 V. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH—BAPTISM . 195 VI. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH— IHK LORD'S SUPPER- THE MASS 200 VII. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH— HIE ROMAN PRIMACY 210 VIII. THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH— PAPAL INFALLIBILIIY 219 IX. THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH— PAPAL SUPREMACY . 22S X. THE CHURCH IN RELATION TO THE UNSEEN WORLD 237 THE PRINCIPLES OF PROTESTANTISM INTRODUCTION THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF PROTESTANTISM It would be going in the face of historic f;ict to deny in any way the strong influence exercised on the Reformation of the sixteenth century by the intellectual and social forces of the time. There was then a great awakening in the mental life and political activity of Europe ; and the mo\ement initiated by Luther was largely moulded by it. But however much the Reformation may have been aided by these factors, its primary and dominant cause is to be found in the new religious convictions which then began to take such deep root in the hearts of men. It was above all a revival of spiritual life. The long- ing for a closer fellowship with God and a more assured peace that manifested itself with such intensity in the spiritual conflicts of Luther was present to a greater or less degree in thousands of souls all around him. Men began to see that the essence of religion lay in the soul's sense of obligation to God, not in mere compliance with the institutions of the Church. This feeling in turn brought upon the conscience a deeper conviction of the guilt and bondage of sin.
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