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

APOSTLESniP NOT TRANS.AIISSIDLE. 235conclude that, had the Christians at Rome been alreadyvisited by Peter, these gifts would not have been still tobestow. That they had as yet been visited by no apostle isindubitable, from what Paul assigns as the cause of hisgreat desire to visit them, namely, " that I might have somefruit among you also, as among other Gentiles.""' Now, itwas PauFs wont never to gather where he had not firstplanted ; for, resuming, in the end of his epistle, the subjectof his long-cherished visit to Rome, he says," Yea, so haveI strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named,lest I should build upon another man"'s foundation."-}- Bythe hand of Paul then, and not of Peter, was planted theRoman Church,— " a noble vine," whose natural robustnessand vigour of stock was abundantly attested by the renownof its early faith, | as well as by the magnitude of its latercorruptions.But though we should concede the question of Peter'sRoman bishoprick, as we formerly conceded the point of hisprimacy, .the Romanist is not a whit nearer his object. Heis immediately met by the question, Were the arch-apostolicalsovereignties and jurisdiction of Peter of a kind suchas he could bequeath to his successor, and did he actuallyso bequeath them IThis is a point which can be determinedonly by' a consideration of the nature of these powers, andof what is related in the New Testament respecting the institutionof offices for the futureIn the firstgovernment of the Church.place, Romanists found the gift of primacy toPeter upon certain acts done by Peter, and upon certainqualities possessed by Peter; but it is abundantly clearthat these acts and qualities Peter could not communicateto his successors ; therefore he could not communicate thedignity which was founded upon them. His office wasstrictly personal, and therefore expired with the personwho had been clothed with it. In the second place, the* Rom. i. 13, + Ibid. xv. 20.t Rom. i. 8, " Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."