The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

212 APOSTOLICITY, OR PETER's PRIMACY.king in a kingdom, a father in a family. The latter metaphoris that of the keys ; for he to whom the keys of akingdom are delivered is made king and governor of thatstate, and has power toadmit or exclude men at his pleasure."*We merely state at present the interpretation ofthis famous passage given by the learned Jesuit : we shallexamine it afterwards.The two main reasons assigned by Dens why the RomanChurch is termed apostolic are, frst., That " the doctrinedelivered by the apostles is the same which shehas alwaysheld, and will continue to hold ;" and, second, Because thatChurch " possesses a lawful and uninterrupted succession ofbishops, especially in the chair of Peter."-}- " Messiahfounded the kingdom of his holy Church in Judea," says DrMilner, " and chose his apostles to propagate it throughoutthe earth, over whom he appointed Simon as the centre ofunion and head pastor, charging him to feed his wholeflock, sheep as well as lambs, giving him the keys of thekingdom of heaven, and changing his name into that ofPeter or Rock ; adding, ' On this rock I icill build myChurch? Thus dignified, St Peter first established his seeat Antioch, the head city of Asia ; whence he sent hisdisciple St Mark to establish and govern the see of Alexandria,the head city of Africa. He afterwards removedhis own see to Rome, thecapital of Europe and the world.Here, having with St Paul sealed the gospel with his blood,he transmitted his prerogative to St Linus, from whom itdescended in succession to St Cletus and St Clement."^ InDr Ohalloner''s Grounds of the Catholic Doctrine, as containedin the profession of faith published by Pope PiusIV., it is asserted " that the Church of Christ must beapostolical by a succession of her pastors, and a lawfulmission derived from the apostles ;" and when it is asked,* Bellarm. de Roman. Pont. cap. x. ct seq.+ Theologia Mor. et Dog. Petri Dens, torn. ii. pp. 123, 124.J Milner's End of Controversy, part ii. p. 132.