1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

with the public good. The species at large still retains, of itsoriginal claim to the soil of the planet which it inhabits, as muchas is compatible with the purposes for which it has parted withthe remainder."====================R1168 : page 6AN ALARMING PROPOSITION.And still they travel the road to Rome. We have frequently oflate given in these columns instances of the way in whichCatholicism is absorbing Protestantism, or rather the way inwhich Protestantism is plunging headlong into Catholicism, andnow we have another step to record. In the Christian at Work ofApril 12, Prof. Charles A. Briggs, D.D., of Union TheologicalSeminary, New York, had an article entitled "Is Rome an Ally,an Enemy, or Both?" Starting out with the assertion that "theRoman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches are agreedin nine-tenths or more of the contents of Christianity," DoctorBriggs makes some statements concerning the Reformation, andthen says:--"We are agreed as to the essentials of Christianity. Our commonfaith is based on the so-called apostles' creed, our worship on theLord's prayer, and our morals on the ten commandments and thesermon on the mount. Who will venture to say that the RomanCatholic Church is not as faithful to these foundations of ourcommon religion as Protestants? Taking our stand on theapostles' creed, we must add to the articles of faith on which weare agreed, all the doctrinal achievements of the church forfifteen centuries, the doctrine of the unity of God, the person andwork of Jesus Christ, the Holy Trinity, original sin and humandepravity, salvation by divine grace, the absolute need of theatonement of Jesus Christ. On all these great doctrines of ourreligion, Romanism and Protestantism are one. Here we areallies, and it is our common task to proclaim these doctrines tothe heathen world, and to overcome by them all forms ofirreligion and infidelity in Christian lands. And differencesabout justification by faith, and salvation by the divine gracealone, and the authority of the church as regards thedetermination of the canon of Scripture, and its interpretation,ought not to prevent our cooperation and alliance in the greatwork of indicating and proclaiming the common faith. Ourconflict over the doctrines in which we differ would be morefruitful in good results, if our contest should be based uponconcord and alliance in the common faith. If our contest couldbe narrowed to the real points of difference, and that contestcould be conducted in a brave, chivalrous, and loving manner,the results would be more fruitful.