I have some good news for my Protestant friends. I have found a contemporary of Augustine of Hippo (354-430) who believed in Sola Scriptura. Here are some quotations you can appeal to: (and no doubt, will say 'Amen' at the end of each quote)
If you produce from the divine scriptures something we all share, we
shall have to listen. But those words which are not found in the scriptures are
under no circumstance accepted by us, especially since the Lord warns us,
saying, ‘In vain they worship me, teaching human commandments and precepts’ (Mt
15:9) [1]
“I state this on the basis of the scriptures. At your bidding, I will
follow up with testimonies [from the scriptures]” [2]
“But if one uses some literary skill or cleverness of mind and makes up
words which the holy scriptures do not contain, they are both idle and
superfluous.” [3]
“And I profess in
accord with the statement of divine scriptures . . .” [4]
“After all, we are
protected not by mere talk, but by the testimonies of the divine scriptures”
[5]
“We believe the
scriptures, and we venerate the divine scriptures. We do not want a single
particle of a letter to perish, for we fear the threat that is stated in these
divine scriptures, ‘Woe to those who take away or add!’ (Dt 4:2) [6]
“All divinely inspired
scripture is useful for teaching (2 Tim 3:16). For that reason, ‘not one least
letter or one particle of a letter will pass away (Mt. 5:18). The Lord said, ‘Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’ (Mt 24:35) [7]
“We ought to accept
all the things that are brought forth from the holy scriptures with full
veneration. The divine scripture has not come as a source of our instruction so
that we might correct it. How I wish that we may prove to be worthy disciples
of the scriptures!” [8]
“The truth is not
obtained by argumentation, but is proved by certain testimonies [i.e., the Scriptures]”
[9]
“[T]hat, if you state
this [i.e., the doctrine of the Trinity] from the divine scriptures, if you
produce any passage of scripture, we are eager to be found disciples of the
divine scriptures.” [10]
The bad news is that this is Maximinus, an
Arian bishop. An early proponent of the formal doctrine of Protestantism was
someone you would believe to be a formal heretic.
Sources for the Above
[1] Debate with Maximinus, 1
[2] Ibid., 4
[3] Ibid., 13
[4] Ibid., 14
[5] Ibid., 15:1
[6] Ibid., 15:13
[7] Ibid., 15:16
[8] Ibid., 15:20
[9] Ibid., 15:21
[10] 15:26
