The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 195

APOSTOLIC INSPIRATION

155

deny that Rome has the slightest authority to confer this power of Peter upon the Pope, or that of the apostles upon its priests. Neither Matt. xvi. 19 nor John xx. 23 contains the least proof for such claim. And inasmuch as no man has the liberty to exercise such extraordinary power except he can show the credentials of his mission, so we deny Rome's qualifications to exercise it in pope or priest,

not because this

substantiate

its

At the same

is

impossible, but because

Rome

can not

claims.

Rome, not fall and clear meaning

time, let us, in our contending with

into the opposite error of disparaging the plain

This is done by the Ethical theologians; for the words of Jesus referred to do not receive justice so long as we refuse to recognize in the apostles a working of the Holy Spirit enWe dilute the words of tirely peculiar, unique, and extraordinary. Jesus and violate their sense so long as we do not acknowledge that, if the apostles were still living, they would have the power to forgive us our sins; and that Peter, if he were still living, would have power and authority to issue ordinances binding upon the The words are so plain, the qualification was whole Church. granted in such definite terms, that it can not be denied that John could forgive sin, and that Peter had power to issue an infallible decree. The Lord said to the disciples " Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them " and to Peter " Whatsoever thou of the word.

:

;

:

on earth shall be bound in heaven." Thus acknowledging the unique position and extraordinary power of the apostles, we immediately add that this power was granted to them alone and to no one else. We emphasize this in opposition to Rome and to those who apply the words of Christ, spoken to His disciples exclusively, to minisNeither Rome nor the Ethical theologians ters and other believers. have the right to do this, unless they can show that the Lord Jesus gave them such right. But they never can. Care should be taken, therefore, in the choice of texts, proofs, and quotations from the shalt bind

Scripture, to ascertain not only

what

is

said,

but also

to

whom

And

thus the error concerning the apostolate will soon be overcome; and believers will see that the apostles occupy a different position from other Christians, that the promises it

was

said.

quoted bear an exceptional character, and that the Word of the Lord misunderstood when inspiration is confounded with illumina-

is

tion.

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