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

THE " TWELVE FOUNDATIONS. 223times quote this passage, as if it favoured their theory ofChrist being the primary foundation and Peter the immediatefoundation of the Church. The passage overthrowsthis view. Romanists must admit that there are but twosenses which can bo put upon the words " the foundation ofthe apostles and prophets ;" they can mean only the personsof the apostles and prophets, or the doctrine of the apostlesand prophets ; but either sense is opposed to the Romanisttheory.If it be said that by the words " the foundation ofthe apostles and prophets" is meant their persons, whatthen becomes of Peter's primacy ? He appears here simplyas one of the twelve ; nay, his name is not seen at all ; andno hint is given that one is superior to another. If personsave here meant, then all the twelve are foundations; and,on the doctrine of transmission, each of the twelve ouo-ht tohave his representative ; we ought to have not only a Peter,but a James, a John, and a Paul in the world. Nay, we oughtto have an Isaiah, a Jeremiah, an Ezekiel, and others also;for with the apostles of theNew are joined the prophets ofthe Old Testament. If it be said that by " the foundationof the apostles and prophets'" we are to understand theirdoctrines, this is just what we maintain, and is but anotherway of stating that Christ is the foundation.** It is well remarked by Spanheini, in his admirable commentary onMatthew, xvi. 18, which contains the germ of almost all that has beenwritten since on this famous passage, that not only are the twelve apostlesgrouped together when spoken of as foundations, but they are mentionedsingly also, as well as Peter. " Nee tantura omnes simul sumpti, sedet singuU, seque ac Petrus totidem fundamenta. Hinc Bifiixiei iuhxa, respondentesroig ^uhxa Atoo-toXoi;" (Apoc. xxi. 14.) " Et ratio plana,quia singuli aeque ac Petrus, nullo discrimiue habito, fundarunt universalimissione Christianam ecclesiam quaa domus et civitas Dei." (SpanhemiiVindiciae Biblicoe, lib. ii. loc. xxviii."We are not aware that it has ever been remarked that the apocalypticsymbol here is framed in exact agreement with our interpretation of Jlatthew,xvi. 18, and in flat contradiction to the papal interpretation. Thegospel Church is seen by John in millennial glory, under the sj-mbol of acity. The city has twelve foundations, with the name of an apostle inscribedon each ;showing that the Church is built on the doctrine wliich