Lectures On Primitive Christianity PDF Download

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 11 a mighty structure upon them. The foundation ought to have nothing weak in it, which has to bear Buch a tremendous weight. The points are these: 1st. It must be shown that St. Peter had a preeminence over the other apostles: 2dly. It must be shown also, that he was bishop of Rome: 3dly. It will still remain to be shown, that he could bequeath his own authority to other persons. It is clear, that if St. Peter had no supremacy to bequeath?or if he was never bishop of Rome?or if he could not bequeath his supremacy, supposing him to have been bishop, and to have had a supremacy?in any of these three cases, (and they are perfectly distinct and unconnected), the Pope's claim is groundless. Well might the reigning Pope at the time of the Council of Trent interdict all discussion of the question of his supremacy in that council He was conscious of the weakness of his title, and would not allow even his own subjects to look into it. I. The first question to be examined is, whether St. Peter had a pre-eminence over the other apostles. To determine this, we must consult the Scriptural history. The Romanists appeal principally to our Lord'scelebrated speech to Peter: Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church. (Matt. xvi. 18). Under what circumstances was this spoken ? Jesus asked His disciples: Whom do men say that I the Son of Man, am / They told him. Then said He: But whom say ye tlutt I am ? Peter, always ready to be the spokesman, said: Thau art the Christ, the Son of the living God that is to say: Thou art not only the Son of man, but also the Son of God. No doubt, our Lord intended to draw forth this answer and express his commendation of it. Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood hath not reveale...