The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-22

+ Fire RfchnIcnd Virginian has pub
lished rather fun and interesting re-
ports of the sermons recently deliv
cred. in our city by distinguished
Roman Catholic. 1t does not seem In =
appropriate to have the other side
prcsented. n&, indeed. in the spirit
of acrimonious controversy, but of
earnest searching after the truth
The Issue Stated.
The Roman Catholic claims that au-
thority resides in the Pope and
Church; the Baptist claims that au-
thority resides alone IN Christ and
the Bible. The church only announces
the terms or which God forgives sins
Ihpse terms are so simple that every
one can understand them for him
sell No person or institution can
lnterpose between the soul and God.
Inc New Testament, which is the
Jaw OF Christianity, differs from the
otd testament in the absence Of q
mediatonial priesthood. There the
Individual may enter the holy Of
hoies. aud make confession and re.
cure forgiveness. directly. This was
unauestionably the method Of print
i've Ghrlstianitv IT was changed by
me roman Catholic hierarchy. Con-
dtttons became SO unbearable as TO
produce the reformation. which trans
fefred allegiance from the church to
IN, word OF God. where ii originally
belonged, and thereby asserted the
right of private Judgment
The Romanist Position Disprovcd.
The prinacy of Peter is Il cardinal
doctrine with Roman Catholics They
found their present teaching of papal
ihi4iiaoiiity upon the supposed prereg-
atlves Of the apostle There are many
considerations. which, TO my mind.
dlsprove their position. Consider a
few.
l. Jesus conferred no power upon
Peer superior to that conferred upon
the other apostles. Matthew Mark
and Luke all record Peters ronfes-
son in the divinity OF Christ. but only
Matthew records christ's words ia
Peter about the rock and KEYS IL
1t conceivable that. If these word.
had the importance attached to them
by Romanists. Mark and Lake ~oui1
have omitted them 1t is their custom
to report the important and essential
Ali give accounts of the commission
to eranReli2e the world, of the deaf 4
of Christ. etc. But the words which
are cited as justifying the Romanists
belief were omitted by two of the
three gospels This omission is all the
more noticeable in Mark. who was the
interpreter Of Peter His is Peter
gospel
What Jesus meant was that out IF
such frail material as Peter and upon
such a confession as he made He
would build His church. The church
today consists of weak mortals who
accept the divinity Of Jesus and seek
TO do His will. 1t does not rest upon
an infaiiible Pope. hut is composed Of
ali those Of whatever name who trust
Christ alone for salvation
John 2o;2a was spoken by Jesus to
ten of the apostles. II reads:
Nrhosesoevsr sins We remit they are
reraitted unto them. and whosesoever
sins We retain they are retained" They
prove that the power bestowed upon
the other apostles was equal TO that
bestowed upnn Peter. DR.. Noah X.
Davis. of the University of Virginia.
was no less a Bible teacher than a
'tosieian. He interpreted Christ as
authorizing those apostles to proclaim
the condition upon which God would
forgive sins.
2. Peter never claimed infallhility.
He wrote two epistles. and there is
not word in them that hints at -papal
liibiity. They were written for all
believers. and individuals are urged To
study the Scriptures for themselves
We have The more firm propneticai
word wherennto We do we'll TO attend.
as to a light which shineth In dark
place,
The first miracle which Peter
wrought was upon the lame man at
the gate of the temple. See Acts
II an II =
sion upon the cripple and the multi
tude They regarded Peter and John
as above morta.s. Peter was prompt
to diselaim superiority. Why look
We SO earnestly on us as though by
our Own power OF holiness We made
this man walk. BY the name
OF Jesus Christ of Nazareth
doth this man stand here before you
whole This is the stone which was
set at ma ught Of your builders which
is become The head of the corner" So,
n ccordlng 10 iNsteTs Jesus Chr 81 is the
rock the cornerstone. In his first
{ pistle. chapter ., verse g. he quotes
the words of Isaiah as referring TO
Christ. Behold l lay in Zion CHIEF
cornerstone elect precious. and ne
that believth on him shall not be con-
: Paul agreed with this view.
Read f.nhesians ago. Being butt
upon the foundations OF the Apostles
and Prophets. Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone Also
3.1l. "For other founda-
ton can no man lay than that is laid.
which IL Jesus Christ II Peter was
the rock and had the keys Of the
kingdom is il not passing strange that
he did not now 1t. We build the
temple OF our hope and Worship upon
Christ. the solid rock. An other
ground is sinking sand.
s. Peters conduct disproves lnfall'-
bility.
Immediately after the great confess
sion. Jesus made the first mention OF
his prssiosr The dssci pies We're shock
ed and perplexed Peter. perhaps,
elAte-i by the approval Of his confess
sion. had the audacity to contradict
his Lord Then Peter took Him and
began TO rebuke Him. saying. BE II
far from thee. Lord; this shah not
l.. Ia a s.,f1