“…we may now turn to inquire as to the Scripture warrant for this principle [of the RPW]. Before appealing to particular texts in which the principle is asserted, we should observe that it is a principle involved in several cardinal doctrines of the Word of God. The case for this principle rests not on a string of isolated proof texts, but upon the central concepts and doctrines of the Word of God. We shall content ourselves with stating five fundamental articles of our faith, from which this principle follows as a good and necessary consequence. First, the Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and are therefore sufficient for all the needs of the church. It clearly follows from the accepted Reformed doctrine of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, that Scripture is the sole and sufficient rule for worship, particularly the worship of the church. If the prescriptions of worship contained in Holy Writ are sufficient, why add ordinances of worship for which there is no need?… The Calvinistic conception of the sufficiency of Scripture, which I trust my readers are prepared to acknowledge to be the scriptural conception, thus involves the regulative principle of worship. It is no accident that the regulative principle of worship makes its first appearance in the Westminster Confession in connection with the discussion of the sufficiency of Scripture. — William Young
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 13:07:29 +0000