Many, perhaps willfully, misunderstand and misrepresent the meaning of Sola Scriptura. It is not an abandonment of patristics or tradition. Rather, it means that all things are subject to God’s own Word. Martin Chemnitz applies this truth to the question of the authority of Church Councils:

The authority of councils is most salutary in the church, as Augustine rightly says, that is, if they judge according to the rule and norm of the sacred Scripture. And when they prove their decisions by means of sure and clear testimonies of Scripture, the church owes them obedience with the greatest reverence as to a heavenly voice. Then also this statement of Christ applies (Luke 10:16): “He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me.” But when the mere name “council” is heard, it ought not at once turn us into rocks, treetrunks, and stocks, as though it were the head of Gorgo, so that we thoughtlessly embrace any and all decrees without examination, without inquiry and careful judgment. For the Scripture tells us that there are also councils of the wicked, Ps. 22:16; of vain persons, Ps. 26:4; of the ungodly, Ps. 1:1, whose assembly Jer. 15:17, on the basis of the psalm, calls an assembly of mockers, who have their name from their false interpretation. Such were the councils of the ungodly priests against Micah, Jeremiah, against Christ and the apostles. We have, however, the strict command of God, 1 John 4:1: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

1 Thess. 5:21: “Test everything; hold fast what is good.”

Matt. 7:15: “Beware of false prophets,” etc.

Therefore it is right, and it must of necessity be done according to the commandment of God, that we examine the decrees of the councils according to the norm of sacred Scripture, as the saying of Jerome has it: “That is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit: which is set forth in the canonical books. If the councils pronounce anything against this, I consider it wicked.”

Examination of the Council of Trent, vol. 1, p31