To give an intelligent answer to this question we must trace the term "Protestantism" to its source, and in doing so we shall find that the name embodies, and is merely a re-affirmation of, truths that are as old as the Bible, for it affirms that blessed Book is the alone source of truth for men.

In the year 1529 Prince John, Elector of Saxony, Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, George, Elector of Brandenburg, and other princes and deputies of the Empire presented a Solemn Protest to King Ferdinand, as the representative of the Emperor Charles V., at the Diet of Spires, and on that account were afterwards known as the Protest-ants. Their supporters naturally shared the title, and their united tenets were named Protestantism.

This famous Protest, signed by those God-fearing rulers, embodied the principle for which they stood, as opposed to the decree of the Emperor, which commanded obedience to the See of Rome.

Let us hear what they said in that historic writing. They had previously declared,"We will obey the Emperor in everything that may maintain peace and the honor of God; but we cannot submit to give up the truths of the Bible, nor the simple worship of God." In the Protest they wrote, "We are resolved, with the grace of God, to maintain the pure preaching of His holy Word, such as is contained in the Biblical books of the Old and New Testaments, without adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it. This Word is the only truth, it is the sure rule of all doctrine, and of all life, and can never fail or deceive us. He who builds on this foundation shall stand against all the powers of hell, whilst all the human vanities that are set up against it shall fall before the face of God.

"We earnestly entreat you to weigh carefully our wrongs and our motives.

"If you do not yield to our request we PROTEST before God, our only Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, and Saviour, and who will one day be our Judge, as well as before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and our people, neither consent nor adhere in any manner to the proposed decree in anything that is contrary to God, to His holy Word, to our right conscience, and to the salvation of souls."

Protestantism therefore establishes the principle of direct responsibility to God and of the direct authority of the Bible-the Word of God-over the conscience, heart, and mind.

This principle is the endorsement of the inspired communication of the apostle when he says, "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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16,17). It maintains right relationships as between God and man, between the Creator and the creature.

This principle cuts off at one stroke the whole paraphernalia of Roman Catholic doctrine, delivers the soul from the thraldom of priestcraft, and sets it before God in the unclouded light of His own revelation of Himself in the Word of His grace.

It sweeps away all the false doctrines by which men are kept from the true knowledge of God-all Popish and priestly pretensions, worshiping of Mary, "Saints" and images, the Mass, human merit in any and every shape, Purgatory, Indulgences, and much more, and in their place puts before the soul the simplicity and beauty of divine truth in its own perfect setting in the Bible, and in all its enlightening and emancipating power. This principle glorifies God and exalts the Lord Jesus-the all-sufficient Saviour, and gives the Holy Ghost His proper place as the Vicar of Christ on earth.

In short, Protestantism as a principle proclaims the Bible as the alone source for us of Divine Truth, its alone authority over the conscience as being to men the very voice of God, and of necessity therefore condemns at the same time as false and abhorrent to God all that is opposed or added to it.

"Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name" (Ps. 138:2).

"The Word which I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day" (John 12:47-49).

"The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.. .But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you" (1 Pet. 1:23, 25).

See also Psalms 1 and 119.

"Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee and thou be found a liar" (Prov. 30:6).

The term Protestantism has been corrupted in practice by being made to embrace much which has no real connection with it, but the principle for which it stands even now, as contrasted with Roman Catholicism and all other religions, is the upholding of the absolute authority and sufficiency of the Bible, the Word of the living God, and thus is the condemnation of superstition and idolatry of every form, by whomsoever held or however practiced. F. L. Harris

Next month (D. V.),"What is Roman Catholicism?"