The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-07-16
day what Peter did. Will you?

| Gay what refer DID. VIII you!
Vss. I7-Io. Peters answer was
inspired. Jesus said SO. 1t call
ed forth wonderful reply, which
the world has never understood.
The Roman Catholic Church has
since its appearance in organized
form made it the foundation Of
their doctrine of a vicegerent of
Christ, and of an unbroken sue
cession of primates in the Church.
The Protestant Church has writ
ten tons to prove what the real
meaning OF Rock" and Keys"
and - .oosening and Binding" of
sins is. The Churches are Sc par
ated here widely, and probably
will forever remain SO.
But in VS.. II We can get one
thing. Jesus accepted this an
swer of Peter. Accepting it, he
claimed to be the Christ. Human
nature can not reach this position
he, in effect, declared. Revelation
alone brings this into a heart.
Intellect will not find the Christ
in Jesus. Spiritual illumination
only makes it plain. He who
saw it then was "blessed." He
who sees it now is "blessed." Are
you one of these?
VS.. IS. Was Peter the Rock?
The Greek idiom to our mind
says "no." "Peter" is only the
English form of the Greek word
"Petros. In the utterance Jesus
changed the name of his disciple
from "Simon, sou of Jona," to
Peter. The next time Jesus used
the Greek word it was noun Of
different gender, and in our opin-
ion was purposelv used to refer
not 10 his disciple, but to the truth
he had just uttered. Thou art
Rock, and upon this saying of
yours, which is also rock, will
build my Church."
vs.. 10 is utterly beyond us.
We do not believe Peter could re-
NIT or retain the sins of any man.
If that is what he meant, there is
still in it no warrant for prelatic
dissolution. God only can forgive
sin. He can. Oh, he can. Try
him, Trust him
VS.. 20. This is verse to be
noted. In charging his disciples
not to tell that he was the Christ.
he was accepting Peters declara-
ton. His reasons doubtless were
to avoid unnecessary controversies
with the Jews. He would meet
death when it came, but lie would
not hurry it. But that he knew
death was not far away he soon
made manifest.
VS.. FL. From that time he
began He knew. He gave all
particulars. He would 60 to
| Jerusalem. He would there suffer
at the hands Of the elders, the
chief priests, the scribes. He would
be killed. But he would rise on
the third day. 1t all happened.
1t shows his prophetic knowledge
of what would happen. 1t shows
the poise of his soul that he could
talk of it so calmly.
vs.. ~. Now Peter once more
speaks Should the Christ suffer
thus? Never. Peter did what
any one of the complny would at
that time have liked to do. Peter
dared to express his thought.
What! the Christ the Son of the
living God, die at the hands of
men? Never. SO he spoke.
Think of the disciple rebuking
his Master.
vs.. %. He met sharp rebuke
himself for his assurance. Jesus
called him Satan. God did not
reveal such words to you Peter.
Flesh and blood alone gave you
| these words. 1t was hard on Peter.
Christ commended one day, call
ed him Satan another day. Peter
dared to assume that esus did
not know what he was saving.
Peter had an idea OF the Christ.
Jesus blessed him for it. Peter
had false idea as to the sort of
Christ he was to be. Jesus stern
, ly rebuffed him tor expressing it.
Vss. 24-25. These verses give
the true doctrine of the Kingdom.