Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-13

the monuments of the apostolic faith.
There is but one explanation of the history of
the Catholic church: she was from the be-
ginning; no other form of the Christian relig-
ion was instituted by Christ.
We now come to
THE GREAT QUESTION,
the vital one in this controversy, what rule of
faith, what form of religion did Christ es-
tablish?
II the catholic position is correct, mot only will
we find the church extending over past history,
but we will actually discover Christ commits
sioning body of pastors and teachers, and
giving this body the promise of infallibiiity
and indefectibility.
We take up the records, writings of the
first apostles and their immediate disciples,
the books of the new testament. According
to all rules of historical criticism, these
books are authentic, reliable records, and only
as historical documents do we make use of
them in the present instance.
1t is not to be objected that Catholics reason
in vicious circle, when they prove the church
from the bible, relying afterwards upoa the
church to prove the inspiration of the bible.
"Bshop Ireland" said Mr.. Smith, in one of
his letters, "proves an infallible church by an
inspired bible, and by an infallible church an
inspired bible" "Not at ALL" replied, "but
Iprove an infallible church from truthful
bible, and an inspired bible by an infallible
church." There is consequently in our mode
of arguing
NO VICIOUS CIRCLE.
The historical reliability of the books of the
new testament, like that of any
document of history, is a matter upon which
our own reason can decide. Not SO with in.
spiration, the existence of which is a super
natural fact. So far as our present argument
is concerned, we care nothing whether these
books are inspired or not; we are interested
only in them as far as they relate to words and
acts of our Savior. Nor are we of necessity
obliged to refer in any manner to these books.
Other early Christian writings would fur
nish us for our present thesis sufficient
proof We quote from the books of the
new testament, because better known and con-
tanning fuller statements OF the facts in ques-
ton.
While he was on earth Christ was the rule
of faith; he taught and the disciples, listening,
believed. This divine school, Master and dis
ciples, was the church. The school, begun
| lshed the apostles to teach in his name, with
his authority. I willquote
THE COMMISSION,
given under circumstances and with assurances
of the highest moment and gravest solemnity.
It was after the resurrection, "And the eleven
disciples" we read in st. Matthew, event into
Galilee, unto The mountain where Jesus had
appointed them. And Jesus
coming spoke to them, saying: All power is
given to me in heaven and in earth. Going,
therefore, teach ye all nations them
to observe all things whatsoever have COM
manded you, and behold l am with you all
DAYS even unto the consummation of the
world"
In 81. Mark weIread: "And Jesus said to
the eleven, go We into the whole world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptised, shall be
saved He that believeth not shall be con-
demned."
THEY ARE APPOINTED TEACHERS.
"Teach all nations" "Preach the gospel"
They are invested for that purpose with his
own authority; his own power is commune
Gated to them; he confers upon them the
plenitude of his own mission. "All power
is given to me in heaven and on earth,
Going We therefore, teach" GAS the Father
sent me, so also send you" Men are told
to receive them and to listen to them, as they
would receive and listen to himself. "He
that heareth you, heareth me. He that des-
piseth YOU despseth me-" Obedience to
them is rigidly prescribed. "Preach to every
creature. He that believeth not, shall
be condemned" They are made to be
INFALLIBLE IN THEIR TEACHING.
This infallibility results from the fact that
they teach in Christ's name, and that all mer
are commanded to believe them. 1t is implied
in the words, CAL power is given to me-
with which he prefaces the commission. II
is clearly asserted in the words, "And behold
I am with you all days." as we'll as in these
81 Will ask the Father, and he will send you
another paraclete that he may abide with you
forever. X X X When the spirit of truth
is come he will teach you all truth"
Other Offices were assignedsby Christ to the
apostles, embracing in their several operations
all that is needfu for the salvation of souls
But upon their office, as teachers, does Christ
lay special stress, as it is in favor of this Of
ice that the promises seem specially to have
been made The teaching Office, indeed, is the
most important operation, because it is by
teaching that faith comes, and because the
right faith is the foundation of the whole
work of salvation in man.
The establishment by Christ of body OF
infallible teachers in the persons of the apos
ties could not be stated in palmer language
1t is an ndupitable fact, if we at all admit the
historical testimony of the new testament.
The fullflment of the commission by the
apostles is worthy of notice. 1t confirms ouI
understanding of the words of Christ. They
preached "And going FORTH" says St. Mark
| i'they preached everywhere, the Lord working
with them, and confirming the word with
signs following" Their preaching dffused
the gospel through the whole Roman empire
before the books of the new testament were
written. They knew of no other rule. "How
then, shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard?" asks st. Paul. "And how
shall they hear without a preacher? And how
shall they preach unless they be sent? Faith
then, cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of Christ" The Institution by Christ Of
this rule the same apostle announces to the
Ephesians: "And some Christ gave to be
apostles, and some prophets, and others evan
gelists, and others pastors and teachers y
that we may not be children tossed to and fra
and carried about by every wind of doctrine.
They demanded absolute submission to theiI
preaching, as if Christ himself preached. awe
are ambassadors for Christ" eff anyone
preach to you a gospel besides that which you
have received, let him be anathema "They
profess to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The
council of Jerusalem DEGREES what "hath seem
ed good to the Holy Ghost and to u.s." In all
things they act and preach as Christ had or
dained.
Few Protestant scholars call into doubt what
we have so far said on the institution of the
Apostolic church by Christ. The fact is too
patent writer in a late number of the
Princeton Rcpiem, says: "The founder OF
Christianity entrusted the work of fully or
ganizing and carrying forward his great agency
of regeneration to his immediate followers or
disciples. He founded an Apostolic church.
This fact cannot be too strongly emphasized,
spread out as it is on the whole face of the
records, and the whole history of the transac-
ton He was here 'but little while,' but
| before he withdrew to the Father, he made
provision for what Mr.. Lecky calls an endur,
ing principle of regeneration He chose
twelve, whom he named apostles, whom be
ordained that they should be with
him, and that he might send them
forth to preach. 4 4 Nothingiies more
plainly in the records than this apostolic
establishment of the church. While Jesus
Christ was the chief corner stone, it was built
upon the foundation of the prophets and
apostles-the New Testament church already
on the latter This fact is fundamental one.
1t supplies the basis and clue to all else"
The same writer continues: "The master
y = AL c,~,,f1 ~