The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-08
! local MATTERS.

4s7.IEg4SS - sEslasy2. Jssg-. aF1R1 ~ l,
local MATTERS.
{. ~ CHURCH NOTES. y
The weather was indeed beautiful on SUN
aay the various city churches were crowded
oo.h morning, afternoon, and evening, and
the rel'gious exercises in all of them interest.
lng, 'nough IN many NO unusual services
FALA SUNDAY. 80, ...rsg i.
the Episcopal and Romisfl churches 1.-THE
Gay being Palm-Sanday) it was appropriateTy
celebrfed. Palm.Sunday was SO named in
memory of the tIiumphai entry OF our Lord
into Jerusalem few days before His Pas
sion. Branches of willow are now gathered
and placed in many Of the CHURCHES i.
s,.@ .s. 81. 45s sBApTisMS, 7.2s ,,s:-t .s,ss y
At quarfer-pasts 10 O'clock on Sunday
morning two candidates were baptized by
Rev. Charles Minnigerode at;St. Paul's, pre.
paratory to confirmation, which is to be held
tomorrow evening. At night, the evening
service was read by Rev. Dallas Tucker, of
Christ:church, in the Valley as"l = ~.
AT the First Baptist, Rev. D. B. Winfree
baptized four persons in the morning, and at
Leigh-Street Baptist one person was bap-
tjzed. -
At Pine.Street Baptist thirteen persons
were received into church membership.
1t may also be remarked that Rev. DIR.
Woodbridge, Of the Monumental (Episcopal),
baptized q lady in the buptistry Of the First
BAPTIST church last week. DR.. Minnigerode
celebrated the same ordinance at st. Paurs
church duling the week, n gentleman being
the candidate. ..-.. - .
BR0AD-sTREET METHODIST.
at the Broad.Street Methodist church,
Rey. j. 9. Granbery preached Sunday night
on Matthew xvi. IS: "'And say also unto
thee. That thou art Peter. aud upon this rock
/ will build my Church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it" He stated that
ne had been preaching series Of sermons on
the apostles--the last. two Sunday nights on
the personal character and life of Peter; now
he came in course to bis official relation to
the Church. There are three Interpretations
Of the phrase "upon this rock" One, that
the rock Is the confessionsjust made by Peter.
which drew forth; this response. Some of
the people thought Jesus to be John the
Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah. or
one Of the prophets. But who say we that
[ am? Peter answered., "Thou art the
Christ, the Son Of the living Cod" "BIessed
art thou, Simon Barjona"; happy in the
knowledge and acknowledgment of this
truth which God has revealed to thee. Thou
hast uttered the fundamental creed of Chris
tianity. On this rock i will! build nv
Church. A second Interpretation makes
Christ the rock. Thou has we'll spoken who
am; the Father has revealed ME to thee.
On this rock, my own person and work, /
will found the Church. sh a-..
The general sense Of these interpretations
Is excellent, but they seemed to the speaker
strained in grammatical construction. The
most natural and obvious construction is that
Peter Is cllled the rock" Thou art Peter;
| have given thee the Dame; thy confession
Of me justities the name and OH this rock"
The first two interpretations did not origi-
nate with the Reformation. Some of the
earliest and ablest fathers taught that the
rock is the truth confessed by Peter, or is
Christ. Many Of the staunchest and most
eminent protestants cOnStrue that the rock
is Peter. a., ...,.. 7ss#
The important question is: In what
sense is he the rock? The Church is
built "on the foundations OF the Apos.
ties and Prophets" The wall of the
City Of God, the New Jerusalem, has
twelve foundations, and in them the names
Of the twelve apostles. Jesus Christ, indeed,
Is the sure foundation, the only foundation,
other foundation can no man lay This may
be expressed differently: The truth as it is
in Jesus, the great facts Of His death, rcsur-
rection, and mediation, is the foundation.
The apostles were the inspired preachers of
this truth: the Church is built on their testi-
mopy concerning Jesus, that testimony
which was confirmed by the signs and won.
ders and divers miracles they wrought.
L. Peter in any eminent sense Me rock Z
Yes; at Penteco$t he preached the first gos.
pel.sermon in the fullest sense; he called
men to believe in Jesus, the crucificd. tho
ascended Lold. and to be baptized in his
name. Again God made choice that by his
mouth the Gentiles should hear the gospel
aud believe. The word and work of Peter lie
at the basis of the Church. Paul loved to
preach Christ where his name had not been
known, lest he should build on another mans
foundations; but he must build on the mys-
terry which Peter first made known, that The
Gentiles should be felow-heirS. and Of the
same body. ~'..5
Was Peter head over the apostles? There
is no hint of such authority in the Acts or
the EpistIes. In the council of apostles
and elders at Jerusalem no superior authori-
ty.Was claimed by him or acknowledged by
his colleagues. In his Epistlcs be styles him
self an apostle aud servant of Jesus Christ
James, John, and Jude do not refer to him
xlo;s ln.f Do,,1 in ftrf Of
teen. To the Church at Corinih he writes
that they should not say, !" am Of Paul, and
of Cephas. and of Arollos, and Of Christ y:
that they should not glory in men. LII the
Epistle to the Galatians he speaks of james,
Cephas, and John as pillars. The ospeIl
of the uncrcumcisiont was committed
unto him as lhe gospel of the circumcision
was unto Peter. The same God who
wrought effectually in Peter to the apostle
ship of thecifcumcision was mighty in him TO-
ward the Gentiles. When Peter first ute with
the GcntiIes, and then withdrew himself for
fear of them which were OF the cireumcI.
sion, and the other Jews di>sembled with
him, Paul Withstond him to the face he saw
that they walked not uprightly according to
the truth of the gospel. Peter, the champion
of tho truth, Is wotthy of all pruise. Peter,
not walking according to the truth. must be
blamed. When Peter Rays, "Thou art
Christ, the Son OF the living God, }" Jesus
answers, ,ssBlessed art thou; upon this rOck.0S
Wh hen Peter says that Jesus must not go to
Jerusalem to be Knocked aud slain, the Mas
ter answers, sGet behind me Satan; thou
art an offence unto me-" Peter, coptessing
Christ, is the rock Peter, denying Christ, IS
q scandal. s@@
The prin,acy of Peter was denied by the
speaker. But. said he, if that were estab-
lished would Popery l.e provedr Christ
said to Simon +" Thou art Peter, and on this
rock Did lie say to Plus tsThou art Peter,