TO OUR PATRONS

Vol. 1, MARCH 1874, No. 1

THE REFORMATION ADVOCATE

David Steele, Editor
Republished 2010
Gospel Covenant Publications
www.gcpublications.com

All true reformers have ever considered sound doctrine and the power of godliness as inseparable. For this they had a sufficient, because a divine, warrant: for although there may be a form, without the power of godliness (2 Tim. 3:5); yet we are sure there is “the doctrine-the truth which is after godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3; Tit. 1:10). The form without the power of godliness is so manifest in our time, that many who fear God notice and bewail its general prevalence. Our Lord has given us an infallible rule by which to judge in this case, had we wisdom to make a faithful application: “By their fruits shall ye know them.” “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs or thistles?”

No one of spiritual discernment can be ignorant that “error cometh in like a flood;” that out of the mouth of the serpent, water as a flood threatens the woman in the wilderness-the bride, the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 12:15). On the one hand we have the philosophical, transcendental, atheistical speculations of German neologists, assisted by English and American metaphysicians-no less atheistical; men dignified with the honorable titles of divines and scientists; but whose learned labors the Holy Spirit truly characterizes as “profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Tim. 6:20). On the other hand we have the traditions and consequent idolatries and superstitions of the Roman church, together with the blasphemous dogma of Infallibility conferred upon the “Man of Sin;” whereby a mortal, since 1870, has been “exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped,” that he may “think to change times and laws” (2 Thess. 2:4; Dan. 7:25).

All sound interpreters agree that the prophecies to which allusion has just been made, are now in course of fulfillment. Yes, and doubtless the time is come when many, carried away with the increasing floods of error, will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, heap to themselves teachers, whom Christ never sent; who turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables (2 Tim. 4:3).

Such appear to be the elements, some of the lesser antichrists, which enter into the composition of the GREAT ANTICHRIST, against whose exorbitant and impious pretensions Christ’s witnesses are specially commissioned to contend (Rev. 11:3). From the beginning of the world till the advent of the Messiah, he left not himself without witness: for all along, during that protracted period, the witnesses received continual accessions, until they constituted “a great cloud” (Heb. 11:1). We have Christ’s promise that he will give power to similar persons to perform similar functions during the whole period of Antichrist’s usurpations (Rev. 11:3). History, sacred and profane, assures us of the fulfillment of the promise: and until the overthrow of the complex system of ecclesiastic and civil tyranny, the witnesses, sustained by the promise, shall live and testify.

Desiring to identify with those who were faithful to the Captain of salvation in ages that are past, especially considering our fathers’ public vows to Jacob’s mighty God, and the perpetual obligation of those vows upon their posterity, the conductors of this Magazine will endeavor to defend and maintain the integrity of the Reformation as contained and symbolized in our covenants, National and Solemn League. Believing these to be organic and fundamental deeds, exemplifying allegiance to the Mediator’s throne by church and state, we will aim to show that they rest upon a Scriptural basis, and are susceptible of general application. Of course it follows, that we will oppose all systems which may be contrary to this scriptural platform.

In attempting to defend and maintain the whole of our Covenanted Reformation, it will be requisite to sustain the following propositions:

1. The Holy Scriptures are the Word of God; and being verbally inspired in Hebrew and Greek immediately by the Holy Spirit, and mediately in faithful translations, they are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ has been appointed by His Father the moral Head of the universe for the good of the church; and to Him we are accountable in individual and social life.

3. The Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Form of Church Government, and the Directory for Worship, are agreeable to the Scriptures: and these formularies are to us subordinate standards of belief and conduct-not simply as framed at Westminster; nor solely as being founded upon the Scriptures, but also, and formally, “as they were received by the Church of Scotland.”

4. Public social covenanting is a divine ordinance, obligatory on churches and nations; and so far as they are of a moral nature, bind the moral person till their ends are accomplished.

5. The testimony of the Church is necessarily progressive; so that each generation is bound to hold fast present attainments, and then go on unto perfection.

Some concessions are here expressly made, to obviate objections of captious persons, although to the charitable and intelligent they would be unnecessary: First, Perfection is not claimed, much less infallibility, for the works of uninspired men — no, not of our best reformers. Second, Consequently, any principle or practice is to be relinquished, so soon as it shall be shown to be contrary to, or beside the Word of God. It may be remarked, moreover, that the reader is not to expect the foregoing propositions to be discussed in numerical order as they are stated here: but contributors to the Magazine will be at liberty to invert the above order at their discretion, or to discuss and any topic germain to the declared objects of the Periodical; and every contributor will be considered responsible for his published sentiments.

It is usual to promise that no personalities shall be admitted into religious magazines. This word, personalities, is equivocal. In the sense of wantonly assailing character, indulging a spirit of malevolence, we shall endeavor sedulously to avoid personalities: but when the claims of truth or the honor of our Master is concerned, we shall not hesitate to point out persons or parties, in conjunction with the public measures which they advocate. So did the prophets and apostles (James 5:10; Heb. 6:12).