The San Francisco call., 1896-01-12

letter of yesterday treated the first proposition
defended by DR.. Wendte:
Peter was never invested by Jesus Christ with
any extraordinary authority or spiritual supremacy
over the other disciples.
In order to substantiate this denial Dr.
Wendte gave the usual objections against the
Catholic doctrine that Peter was appointed
head OF the church. These objections 1 ar
ranged in the following order:
A. Objections against the proofs alleged to sub
stantiate the fact.
no value, because:
(dl Peter is not the only Rock
(b) His name Rock was given on a different oc-
cssion, and therefore has no special significance.
(cl Peter was the Rock simply because he took q
leading part in spreading the church.
(d) Peter not the Rock, because Christ re-
buked him and because he denied Christ.
p The argument from the commission to con-
was meant but ST. Peters natural fervor.
g. The argument from the power OF binding aud
loosing Is OF no weight, because all the disciples
ce!ved the power.
B. Objections against the fact itself.
"a Our Lord himself expressly provided against
t2) The ancient church was not organized on
hierachcal basis, and therefore there was no room
80 The whole history of the apostolic church
shows no trace Of the primacy of Peter because
(d) The apostles exercised their authority in
common.
(b) Peter did not preside at the council Of Jeru-
salem.
(c) Paul yyfthstood him face 10 face.
(d) The fourth gospel glori6es John, not Peter
I have considered his treatment of the argu-
ment drawn from the Rock metaphor, and
have shown that his objections will not hold
water. now proceed to examine his answers
to the argument drawn from
.. THE COMMISSION TO CONFIRM THE BRETHREN
= The account OF the couferring OF such a COM
mission on Peter Is found in the twenty-second
chapter OF ST. Luke: There also arose conten-
ton among them which OF them is accounted
10 be the greatest" Such contentious were
not unfrequent- \ band OF poor fishermen,
fired with Messianic dreams, have been prom
lsed Kingdom, and it is no wonder
that they should squabble and in
trigue for the good places. Christ takes note
OF their contention, and does he say
there shall be no places, no ''chiefs." no
greatest in his kingdom? Such declaration
would end the dispute at once. On the con-
trary he admits that there shall be grades and
offices among them. and he takes the oppor-
tunity to inculcate humility on the men who
are 10 hold these offices. They are not to
follow the example OF the petty tvrants who
rule the nations: The kings OF the gentiles
lord 1t over them and they that have authority
are called DeneiactorS, but not so ye. He that
is greater among you let him become as the
lesser, and he that is chief as one that doth
serve"
Then he enforces this precept by his own ex-
ample. No one who reads the gospels can
deny that Christ acted as chief, as leader as
governor OF mis- kingdom. Acts of authority
exercised by him are found strewn eli over
the pages OF the evangellSts. He therefore was
among them as their master and chief vet
just al this very moment he had but finished
washing OF their feet "'For whether is
greater-he that sitteth a. meat or he that
serveth? Is not he that sitteth al meat; but
l am IN the midst OF you Is he that serveth."
He had not ceased to be their master though
he acted as their servant. He was still the
king, though he was meek and humble of
heart; so when they should receive the ap-
pointed kingdom, and should sit on thrones
judging Israel, they should not be carried
away by their power, but should use it even
as he. Then he turned to Peter and said:
"Slmon, Simon, Satan hath desired TO have
you'-plural, the apostles-'that he might
sift you"-plural, the apostles-"as the wheat
IS slfted III the wlnnowing. But have praved
for"-whom? The twelve apostles? No; but
"thee"-singular, Simon Peter-"that thy
singular, Peters-'faith fail not. And thou''-
brethren"-the apostles.
The hour OF the passion is at hand. The lit
tie flock which he had gathered with such in
finite care and patience and love is about to be
scattered. The powers OF darkness are to have
their day OF triumph. What then will become
OF those 10 whom he has been making such
promises, promises so glorious that he has
been compelled 10 warn them against pride?
His words give the answer. He has chosen one
out OF the eleven, TO be the greatest in the
kingdom OF heaven. To him he gives the office
of confirming his brethren. In order thai he
may carry out that Office he prays for him
specially; Evidently he believes that his
prayers shall be efficacious. Peters faith shall
not fail and Peter, therefore, shall confirm the
brethren.
This duty laid upon Peter is something given
Il
IS privilege which necessarily denotes au-
thority. Christ sends him TO restore order 10
an army that IS demoralized. The enemy is
- victorious and the soldiers are fleeing hither
and thither. He who in such juncture would
rally men once more to the flag must possess
or must seize authority. His words must be
commands, and he must be ready 10 shoot the
mutineer dead in his tracks. In such a case
men will obey authority, and authority oniy.
When Christ sends Peter to rally MS panic
stricken apostles shall we believe that he sent
him without mnCh anthOrifv g vCp
give policeman in a stampede? Unless he
mas power and can speak as one having power,
all his efforts will be in vain; but because he
mas authority and because he speaks one
having authority he is able to confirm the
brethren as his master commanded.
But the Rev. DR.. Wendte thinks otherwise
peter" he says, "was man Of intense and
striking individuality, a singular bIending NJ
strength and weakness, faith and fear. He was
always foremost among the disciples to speak and
act Hence, Jesus naturally looked to him 70 be-
come pillar of the church, and by his faIt1 and
feryor to strengthen the brethren in the hour OF
trial."
do not suppose here that he is more than a
man, or that he could see into the future or
that his prayers were eficaoious. l take mis-
words as expressing his thoughts whether
these thoughts were correct or not. Now then
our Lords words evidently imply that tho
devil had got hold OF the whole apostolic col
lege. To jews saturated with the Old Tesla
ment, his expression meant that Satan had oh
tanned them, of old he had obtained Joh In
this iuncture what did Christ do? He does not
rely on Peters fervor; he relies on his own
prayers. Peter shall not fail, and the obyious
Intention OF Christs words is that he does moi
fail because OF Christ's prayers. Dr. Wendte
may not believe that Christs prayers could
have this effect, but it is evident that whoever
wrote the gospel had different opinion.
Anyhow it little matters why Peter did not
fail. Christ gives him certain duty to per
form as soon as conversion comes. That dutv
is TO be exercised by him toward the Other
apos les. How on the face of this commission
can any one hold that Peter was never in
vested by Jesus Christ with any extraordinary
authority over the other disciples"
8. THE COMMISSION TO BIND AND LOOSE.
As "final proof that St. Peter received no
special power or authority DR.. Wendte says:
In the Gospel of Matthews (xvi:lS) we read
that Jesus committed the power TO bind and loose
TO retain and remit sin, only to Peter, but TO ali
the disciples 'sVerily, saw unto you, whatsoever
ye bind earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatsoever We loose earth shall
be loosed in heaven" Whatever weight
of authority may attach 10 this
mysterious passage. one thing is assured, the keys
of heaven are in the hands OF one privileged