The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-01


sity OF Visible Head, for Perpetuating
the Unity OF the Church.
In the name Of the Father and of the Son and OF
the Holy Ghost-Amen. In St Matthew, 10Th chap
ter, and second verse, we read as follows
snow the names OF the twelve Apostles are these
The FIRST Simon, who is called Peter and Andrew his
brother James the on.o Zsbedse, and John, his bro
tner," &c. sc.
These few words contain the whole of the copi-
GUS subject which it falls to my lot to argue this
evening and it will be seen in the course OF the
remarks shall make, whether the word first
here applied to Peter, should be taken in its ordina-
ny acceptatlon tor instance, whether the term first
means primo, or first In point of colocation, or
whether IT implies first in point OF supreme auhori-
ty over the other Apostles of Jesus Christ On en-
terlng upon the argument, | presume that the prl-
vilege which is claimed as the birth-right Of Pro-
testants, will not be refused to me mean the
right to interpret the Holy Scriptures according to
my own judgment. II 1 take the text as find it.,
and think proper to interpret the word first as be-
ing to the principles OF Professionalism, cannot be
condemned. Therefore, in starting upon this sub
Ject find have to say the least, as much right to
interpret the word first as bestowlng upon Peter the
superioritylo the other Apostles as the Proies.
tants have to interpret 1t In any other Specification
There could not be a more important SUBJECT, none
more fraught with absorbing interest. than the pro-
position which lay down this evenlng-that there
must be visible head of the church that visible
head 10 the successor Of st. Peter and that that
visible head 10 necessary, IN order t. the conserva
ton Of unity in the Christian Church, If it
can be proved that Peter was vested with
supremacy over the other Apostles, and il the
sovereign Pontiffs are the successors of Peter,
It follows that the sovereign Pontlfs are
likewise invested with supreme authority. It be-
comes me, therefore, to prove that Christ bestowed
on Peter the prerogatve OF supremacy in the first
place; and then the undeniable consequence, that
the Roman Pontitf, being the successor of Peter,
must likewise be invested with supremacy over the
whole catholic world. Could there be any subject
more worthy the candid and religious enquiry of
any people Could there be any subject more vital
y Interesting at the present perodl Could there be
any subject more Important IN this republic, where
the Catholics have been abused so much and SO
vlrulently-where 80 many absurd ideas regarding
the supremacy Of the Roman Pontif, and 80 many
caamnies and misrepresentation have been trum-
pered forth against this doctrne-where the belize
vers IN this doctrine are stlgmatzed as the subjects
OF foreign potentate and unfit to live In this land
OF liberty which Is theirs by birth or by adoption.
The subject, then, Is extremely lmpertant-and feel
ing all It's Importance. will endeavor to put aside
excitement, and avoid all defamation, in order to
argue theologically this great and most important
dogma OF the Catholic Church. In proving the d.
vlnlty OF any doctrine oil the Christian religion, we
have recourse to two methods-the first Is by apply
ing the test OF the sacred scriptures; and as mankind
never can, OF themselves, agree with regard to the
acceptation OF the texts OF the scriptures
sary to have recourse, likewise, to the authority of
the fathers Of the primitive church This is the me-
thod OF proceeding which all Tinitarians have re-
to, order prove tho dogma OF the divini
ty Of Christ. If undertake to prove the dogma Of
the divinity OF Christ, my first process Is to have
course to the sacred scriptures, from which deduce
the evidences OF his divinity. But as these texts
are not satisfactory those who reject his divinity
then the believer in his divinity must have re-
course 10 another authority; and that authority Is
When have the testimony Of the ancient fathers,
accept tho doctrine having been taught BY the Apos
the end of the world 30 IL Is regard to the question
We are now inquiring into IL | am asked whether the
Catholic church believes In the supremacy Of Peter and
the Pope, proceed first to examine whatever proofs
find in the Holy Scriptures and as know that the texts
will BE- disputed by Others il necessary for me to have
to the testimony Of the primitive church, and
whether the early faihsrs taught this doctrine.
We IND this to DO true then We rest satised in the truth
a s s the
But before enter the first argument beg 10 bring
before you the authority OF one Of the most iiustrous
and by all denominations regarded and believed TO be
Of the most sincere, OF Christian men, The fsriamed Mr.
Newman, who lately became member Of the Catholic
tian doctrine speaking Of the supremacy Of Peter and of
the Pope remarks that after the most mature nvesga
ton, alter inquirns into the testimony q the earliest IA
rnes he discovered that there are far more clear and
explicit authorities upon the subject of the supremacy
OF the Pope to be found in their writings than there are
be found the divinity of Christ For he continues
before the Nicene Council the whole Christian world
wa: tina: great MANY o.
ly the divinity Of Christ and the question was set at
rest only BY the Bishops assembled in the Nicene
disagreement in regard to the doctrine OF the SUI
premacy Of the Pope that whenever the fathers
spoke Of the supremacy Of the Pope, they spoke
oil il q dogma which the whole Christian world
agreed in admitting and practising But will not
dstsin you the details of this nexhaustble subject
for IL would require volumes to do it justice Let us
proceed to scrptural authorities in vindcaon Of this
venerable doctrine Of the Catholic church will call
your attention. hrst, to the 18th chapter Of ST. Mathew
IRON the 18th 10 the 10Th versesWhsn Jesus came into
the coasts Of Cssarea Philippe no asked his disciples,
saying who do men say that !, the Son Of Man, am
And tney said some say that thou art John, and
Others Jsreia or one Of the Prophets He saith unto
them, Bat who say ye that am And Simon Peter
swered and said Thou art the Christ the Son OF the v
ing God And Jesus answered. and said unto him. Bless
thou Simon BaTjona for flesh and blood hath not
revealed thee but my Father, which ia in Heaven
And say also unto thee, That thou art Peter and upon
this rock | will build my Church, and the gates Of
Hell shall not prevail against 1t. And will give unto
thee the keys Of the kingdom Of Heaven, and whatso
ever thou shalt bind Earth shall be bound in Heaven
and whatsoever thou sha loose Earth shall DO loosed
In Heaven" Here, then, the frs scrpturs argument
IN yindicston Of the doctrine Of the supremacy Of Pstsr