Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

16 THK FORMATION OF CHRISTENDOMthe first preaching of St. Peter, we have a very strikingtestimony to the work which he had done in thecapital of the Roman Empire, and the chief seat of idolworship. St. Paul, writing to the Roman Christiansat that time, renders thanks to God for their " faithbeing spoken of throughout the whole world," andthat " their obedience had reached all men," termswhich carry with them the meaning of a completelyconstituted and very flourishing Church. He callsthem besides, " full of goodness and all knowledge,and able to admonish others," and " desires much tosee them that he might impart some gratuitous spiritualgift to confirm them, that is, to console himselfand them with their mutual faith," language againwhich implies the complete formation of a Church.1But he, moreover, alleges a very remarkable reasonwhy he had not hitherto visited them. He statesthat it had been his object, while labouring at thepublication of the Gospel-kingdom from Jerusalem allround in a circle to Illyricum, and there plantingChurches, not to build on another man's foundation.2Here he uses exactly the two words applied by ancientwriters to Peter's work at Rome, that is, founding andbuilding: and he adds, " For this reason I have beenmany times prevented coming to you," that is, becauseyou were already founded and built by another. Butwhen St. Paul uses such language, it is evident thatthis other must be at least of equal rank with himself.Nor did he indeed avoid simple preaching where otherApostles preached, for this he had done in Judaea ;he avoided founding a Chnrch on another's foundation.1 Rom. i. 8; xvi. 19; xv. 14; i. n.r ^5 See above.St