Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-17

cause successors OF st. Peter. Luxe
boldly asserts that their claim from the
first was a usurpation, and says (poor,
simple mani, that he has proved it.
Where is the proof? It is so thin that
no one else can see 1t.
Our good friend also forces me to ex-
pose his ignorance of Scripture as well
as OF history. He is convinced that his
Scriptural quotations, which thought
unworthy OF even passing word, set
tie the question of Peters Primary be-
yond refutation. Let us examine
them. First, st. Paul reproves st.
Peter, (Gal. ill., have always been
under the impression that If st. Paul
was not fully conscious of st. Peters SUI
periority he would not have thought
that incident worth recording. Luke
will not himself for moment contend
that st. Peter erred in any matter oil
faith; only in his manner oil treating the
Gentle converts. But may an inferior
never respectfully demonstrate with his
superior? st. Bernard, priest, spoke
his mind very plainly TO Pope Eugenius,
and in return for his frankness, he re-
ceiyed the warmest thanks OF the Pon-
tiff. -,
Secondly, he quotes Gal. III. 6. l will
give the commentary on this passage OF
ST. Ambrose and st. Augustine, who
lived twelve hundred years before the
rise of Protestantism-and were there
fore unbiased by the religious controv-
ersies of modern times. but they VINO
seemed to be something, added nothing
TO me"-that is nothing OF doctrine,
because by his extraordinary vocation,
st, Paul (bivus Paulus) received full
revelation of Christian truths what
they were sometime, 1t is nothing to
me"-that is, though they were once
unlearned, poor despised fishermen,
whilst was Roman citizen, learned
and Jealous" "God accepteth not the
person of man." that is, "since of poor
fishermen He has made great Apostles
The Greek has it: mot they added moth
ing, but they communicated nothing to
me-"
In all this there is nothing against st.
Peters Office. In III Cor, Xi, b. the
Protestant Bible has different reading
from the Catholic; but the Apostle later
on explains his meaning. In the
preaching of the Gospel, in the gifts of
the Spirit, in the labors of an apostle,
he is in no way inferior to the rest OF the
apostles, ". 23)-all of which the Cath
Ole church knows and teaches. Thirdly,
and here "Luke" rejoices in his certain
victory. Oh! why do you force me to
expose YOU, kind friend? ! will repro
duce "Luke's" own words: "The Cos
mel Of he circumcision rds committed 10
Peter, and that of the Gentiies-including
ROne-to him (PauD." But st. Paul had
never seen Rome, when he wrote his
letter TO the Romans; and yet in that
letter st. Paul SAYS that their faith was
then spoken of all over the world.
Who had preached it to them? II the
conversion of Rome was entrusted to
St. Paul, it is evident some
body got ahead of him there,
who was it? No doubt that ever
forward Peter. But think that here
in the country our good people would
tell Luke" that he is driving his
plough too deep into the ground. lie
is insisting on arguments that would
prove entirely too much for his purpose.
lie will have it that st. Peters mission
was to the Jews exclusively. But does
he not know that that is not true? Who
opened the door of the church To the
Genties, and received the first convert
from among them? Was il not las il
was fitting that it should be- st. Peter,
the Prince OF the Apostles? (Acts, ch.
Ky Again, our clever scripturalist will
have it that st. Paul confined his labors
exclusively to the Gentiles; indeed,
from his style of arguing, we must con-
LII haN I'm M hnr Al
had nothing to do with the col
verting OF any but Jews. ''The Gospel
OF the Gentiles was committed 10 Paul;
therefore he must have included Rome"
But here again he is egregiously mista-
ken. st. Paul did not confine his labors
and preaching to the Gentiles though
he was in a special manner the Apostle
of the Gentiles. ! will not call for proof
upon the Apostolic fathers, for whom
Luke" expresses so much contempt;
but will ask st. Paul himself to refutc
"Luke's" statement. In Acts Xxx, q.
st. Luke mot our modern Evangelist
reproduces the very words OF 1t. Paul,
saying that he was "testifying Ia both
the Jews and also to the Greeks" But
lest he wriggle out Of this testimony, ]
will now produce yet higher authority,
the "Acts" ch. tx, v. lG, we read: "But
the Lord said unto him (Ananias): Go
thy way, for he PAUL is chosen vessel
INTO me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and Kings, and NE chiidren Of
Israel"
What has "Luke" to say 10 the good
Lord? Will he answer with an old
dame, whose grandson, scolded for stroll
ing through the woods on Sunday, at
tempted TO vindicate himselfby quoting
Scripture. "Why, grandma, don't the
Lord say that the Sabbath was made for
man, and not man for Sabbath" "Wcll,
yes. Bob, do remember that the Lord
did say that once; but do you know I've
never thought any the better OF him for
saying it,"
II Luke" does not know any more
about the inside or outside workings Of
the Vatican Council than he knows
about Scripture or history, advise him
TO keep his knowledge TO himself. II
will not benefit the public at large.
Does he expect any reply to his "Bil-
lingsgate" about the foreign priesthood
Of the "Romish Church? / decline to
offer any, simply because ] do not my
self indulge in coarse ribaldry and can
not encourage others in such vulgarity.
Ii is an argumentum al rligup-an appeal
TO the lowest passions OF the lowest
scum Of society. He may share undis-
turbed the sympathy and support ofthe
low.fung cut-throats whom such APP
peals stir 10 action. IL in patent that
had Luke" full sway, Roman Catholics
would soon feel his practical application
OF our American doctrine Of civil and re-
ligious liberty. The Catholic Clergy in
this country, both native and foreign
born, have made for themselves re-
cord Of which they have no need 10 be
ashamed, for pure patriotism, unselfish
devotion to the best interests OF civil
society, and heroic sacrifice in the cause
OF suffering humanity in all its worst
phases OF wretchedness. The proof may
be found in the annals Of our battle-fields
and bnapitala az nur hnpnes for inc NOR