Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-31

read entire. Three times does the
Saviour commit His whole flock to the
care OF Peter: "Feed My lambs; feed
Nv sheep; feed Ny sheep" Can any
one. in the face of this thrice repeated
declaration, be so impious as to boldly
deny that Jesus Christ constituted st.
Peter the visible shepherd OF bis whole
flock? 1t is simply past conceivlng how
Bible Christians can question the fact.
How absurd their arguments against 1t.
They quote Luke xii, 25-2S, and
Matt XXX, 1928, to prove that there
was to be no ruler or chief among the
Apostles. Now maintain that these
passages prove just the contrary, and that
our Lords eXhortation to His Apostles
TO initiate his humility is absolutely
meaningless unless there were to be
chief and ruler recognized among
them. "He who is the greatest among
you let him be as the least; and he that
is the leader (or chief as he that serv-
eth" 1t is hardly necessary to say that
abusive epithets, such as Romanists,
Popish, Romish ct id omre genus, are not
arguments either Of truth or Of charity.
Equally barren Of logic, as well as OF re-
ligion, is the strain of familiarity and IT.
reverence in which some habitually
speak of the blessed Apostles OF the Sa-
vior; notably OF st. Peter, whom they
seem anxious to lower in the minds Of
Christians in order to check their
"Romish" tendencies. From the man.
ner they speak OF what Peter did,
and OF what Paul. says, you
might suppose that Peter and
were stable-boys or servants. Such
men deserve the cutting rebuke said 10
have been once administered by an
Irishman TO one guilty OF like irrever-
ence. III YOU have not religion enough,
sir, TO call the Apostle Of Jesus, SAINT
Paul; at least have politeness enough TO
call him Mister Paul" The Apostle him
SELF calls the early Christians to whom
he addressed his Epistlcs, Saints"
Why then hesitate to give him and his
COMPOSITES the like appellation? The
Bible sanctions it does IL not?
The Bishop then briefly reviewed the
first chapters OF the Acts OF the Apos-
ties" TO show that ST. Peter Immediately
after our Lords Ascension, exercised
on all occasions his high office OF Chief
among the Apostles. lieis always first;
aid when he spoke nj the Council ever
which he prcsidcdat Jerusalem, though
there had been much disputing before,
thcn AL the multitude kept silence
XIV, and ~. There We have
the kcy-notc to all subsequent leg
iSlation in the Church. When
Peter, rs chief Pastor, speaks and de-
cIarcs the doctrines of revelation and
their meaning. "All the multitude
keep silence" because they know that
he is the vicar OF Christ, and rs such,
the inialliblc cXpJundcr of divine rev.
elation. He may be rs great II sinner rs
David was, but ii, like the royal prophet,
he is commissioned 10 speak in Gods
name, God will and must zee that he
does not err. This security Was rc-
markedly illustrated in the case OF Pope
Vigilius in the sixth century. D.Dzlcd
By the promise of the Papacy male Ia
him by the Empress Theodore, OH con-
dition that he would approve the
Entychian hercSy, heaCceptcd the offer,
and intrudcl himself into the Papal
chair, the rightful Pontiif, st. Silyerius,
being driven into exile by Bclizarius,
commandments of the imperial
forces. For two ycars-until the death OF
the Popc-Nigilius WIS unqucstlonably
rsurpcr. Then he rcpcntcd oi his
crimes, rctractcd his errors, and was
economically elected to succeed Silyerius.
Seated in the chair OF Peter, he openly
condemned the Entychian hcresy, and
like a true hero, suffered persecution,
exile and almost death for the faith,
which before he had bascly bargaincd to
betray. His promise 10 Theodore was
contradictory to the promise OF Christ 10
Peter Christ's promise could not fail;
then Vigilius' had to fail, and the malice
OF man was forced to yield 10 the might
OF God.
So shall it always be. All else may
pass away. States, empires, Kingdoms
may tottcr and perish. Not only earth,
but heaven itself may pass away, but
the words Of Christ appointing Peter
chief pastor of His flock and coniifmer
of the faith OF all his brethren, and
guaranteeing iniallibility to the Rock
upon which He built His Church, shall
never, H'rer pass away.