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

other Of his Apostles He thus Cephas as
rock the secondary and visible foundation OF the
Church, which about to be established, and which
was mover to know that th, text 10 disputed,
and that would require much investigation, and far
jections which made against but it is text the
meaning of which know how to vindcae. After ap-
peang to ths and also to another Sortura authority
we will then have to the the primitive church
and instead Of consulting men OF the time we
there was any division in the Christian Church ;
and I'VE shall know from them what was believed
by all Christians in the earliest days: Let us turn
now the 2lst chapter of st. John, the 18th to the
18th verse :-"So when they had dined, Jesus said
to Simon Peter, Simon, son Of Jonas, lowest thou me
more than these? He saith unto him. YEA Lord; thou
knowest that love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my
lambs. He saith to him again the second time, SIMON,
son o. Jonas lowest thou moi he ssitn unto nim LORD
my sheep He saith unto him the third time, Simon. son
Of Jonas lowest thou mel Peter was grieved because
said unto him. Lord thou knowes all things thou know
est that ] love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my
young thou sldes ny self and walssds whittier thou
wouldst bu when thou shalt be DID, thou shalt stretch
forth thy hands and another shalt grid thee and carry
thee whittier thou woudst not" From this passage We
argues that the Church composed of the lambs aud tho
sheep-of the simple faithful and of the pastors But
Peter was commanded to have charge over the lambs
and the sheep; consequently to him committed
the charge the whole shespfod and We conclude
he invested with supremacy the whole church
Now that may carry out our process Of argu
having quoted two brief authorities from tae
sacred let Us see what were the teachings OF
the early fathers Of the church; and II these teachings
bear out, then fnd ourselves in accordance with
them and with the Scriptures-we find ourselves be-
lieving the identical doctrues taught by the primitive
fathers and admitted by the ancient church After quo
ting the first authority cannot resist the impulse that
learned on tine .aSsc You asE me- II there
has been any mention of the word Pope" the earliest
period of the church, answer not Of the word no
than in the early period Of the church do find the
word Trinity but the doctrine is there; for as MI New.
remarks st. Ignatius silent in his epises on
the subject of the Popes authority but il that authority
and could be in active operation, then such
silence is not difficult to account for as the silence OF
Seneca Plutach about Christianity ITSELF or Of Lucan
about the Roman people ST. ignatius directed his doc
trino according to the need While the Apostles were
earth there need neither Of Bishop nor Popether
power was dormant or exercised by the Apostles In
course of time first the power Of the Bishop awoke and
then the power of the Pope Let US see then whether
the doctrines of the early fathers will first quote st.
Iren9us in his first book, chapter 3D. He lived IN the
TIM Of ~ S N. 70
most ancient and best known to ALL Is that church found
ed at Rome by the Apostles Peter and Paul. which has
its traditions from the Apostles and its faith announced
to through the succession Of bishops coming down
to u.s. by which confound all those who in any man.
depravty adopt what they should not to this church.
on account Of its more powerful prncpality, neces
ssry for every Church to recur that 49, AZ nose VINO
from all parts have been preserved the traditions which
from tho Apostles" Here st. Irensus characteri.
the Roman Church a. having the more powerful
principality of all tho churches. Whyi Because
over that church the bishop who was the successor
other churches must have consequently that
church il the centre Of unity Bay not that ne stri'
was the most powerful metropolis that he referred to
the temporal influence Of Rome for we find that the
same IrenGus nerposed between the Asiacs, who had
preached novel doctrine contrary to the Apostolic ira
dtions and the sovereign Pontf who was about to sx
communicate them Consequently, we And st. Ireneus
carrying out the theory which he has and not
because Rome the more powerful city but because
there resided within its walls the bishop ~ho possessed
And sSs drcs Of h. will be
more, when you learn that lren~us " as an eastern
bishop Let US now consult 81 SyPiian. PEG ms oo.n
epstle to Pope Cornelius and this text has the more
point and force, from the circumstance that he had dill
ference with the Pope Cornelius on the subject Of the
rebaptism Of heretics always, however admitting Cor
neus to be invested with supreme authority Speak.
ing Of certain schismstcs he says After having ap
recourse to the chair Of Peter and the principal church
whence sacerdotsl unity emanates. Nor do they re-
feet that the faith Of the Romans has been praised by the
Apostles, and that per6dy 6nd access to them
He here speaks of the chair Of Peter a. being placed in
Romeand wherever the chair Of Potter was there was
supremacy because tho ehai, Of Peter and supremaey
are Synonymous and identical terms. Again, speaking
of the char of Peter he although Christ gave TO
unity he appointed one chair The other Apostles
were certainly endowed with equal honor and power
with Peter but the prinacy IL given to Petsr that the
church OF Christ and chair might be manifest
who does not hold this unity believe that he holds
the faith Can he who resists tho church. who deserts
himself that he is in the church ~ This 10 the language
of 81 Cyprau, early the third century He says
is true that equal power given TO the other Aposues
with Peterand denies that the other Apostles are
equal Bishops equal in the right Of teaching equal
inssmuch they all sent to establish churches
and propagate the gospel But we contend from this
very quotation that Peter possessed another and pecu-
liar prerogave, which not given to the other Apos
ties, and that prerogstve, that he was "frst among
them all-the immediate representative Of Christ on
earhthe visible head Of the church His successor be-
ing tho Roman Ponf the Roman Pontif possesses the
sane prerogave though as mere Bishop he not sups
ror any other Bishop II is not mere bishop then
that he claims superiority but as the successor Of Peter
st Augustine, lin mis- second book baptism, chap l.
says that he learns from scripture that tho prmacy Of
the Apostles preeminent In Peter" And In fpisue,
5srd. I" The Roman Church is the scat Of Pe.er."
And sermon 13l-" In the Roman Church, the pr
macy OF the Apostolic Chair, has always prevailed"
More explicit language than this could used by
any modern Roman Chatholic. st. Jerome says: But
say the church founded Peter though IN an
other place IL has been all the Apostles as all rccev.
ed the keys Of the Kingdom Of Heaven and on them
equally 10 the frmness Of the church established never
thelcss among the twelve 10 chosen, that head be-
ing appointed the oocssion Of schsm may be removsd
Hers sgan the same doctrine sxprssssd and the same