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The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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Now <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> Protestantism is well set<br />

forth by D‘Aubigne, <strong>the</strong> historian <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Reformation. Speaking <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> diet <strong>of</strong> Spires, where<br />

<strong>the</strong> famous Protest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Princes was drawn up,<br />

and from which we get <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Protestant, and<br />

<strong>the</strong> word Protestantism, he says:--<br />

“<strong>The</strong> principles contained in this celebrated<br />

protest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 19th <strong>of</strong> April, 1592, constitute <strong>the</strong><br />

very essence <strong>of</strong> Protestantism. Now this protest<br />

opposed two abuses <strong>of</strong> man in matters <strong>of</strong> faith: <strong>the</strong><br />

first is <strong>the</strong> intrusion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> civil magistrate, and <strong>the</strong><br />

second <strong>the</strong> arbitrary authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church.<br />

Instead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se abuses, Protestantism sets <strong>the</strong><br />

power <strong>of</strong> conscience above <strong>the</strong> magistrate, and <strong>the</strong><br />

authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Word <strong>of</strong> God above <strong>the</strong> visible<br />

church.”[14]<br />

This is <strong>the</strong> essence <strong>of</strong> Protestantism in very<br />

truth. <strong>The</strong>re may be sects many and varied; but this<br />

is <strong>the</strong> underlying, fundamental, basic principle.<br />

True Protestantism opposes <strong>the</strong> “intrusion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

civil magistrate” in things pertaining to <strong>the</strong> church.<br />

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