Ultimate Appeal to Scripture Authority

Ultimate Appeal to Scripture Authority It is the opinion of some persons that a considerable portion of the essentials of Christianity is not to be found in Scripture but in a supplementary tradition, which is to be sought in the works of those early fathers who were orthodox. Others, again, utterly oppose such notions; and, independently of the consideration that upon such a theory the foundations of a Christian's faith and hope become inaccessible to nearly the whole of the laity, and to much the greater part of the clergy, they reject the system on its own account. They acknowledge the authority of no private individual, ancient or modern, in a question of doctrine. With true respect for all who are entitled to it, and with a just acknowledgment of the valuable instruction to be derived from their works, they yet consider that, be: they of what age or of what country they may, anti- Nicene or post-Nicene, Popish or Protestant, they are not to stand with them, as Christians, in place of the Holy Scriptures; or, as Christian ministers, in place of their own Church. SEE FAITH, RULE OF.