gofpel upon which the church was then SER M. to be erected.

But it cannot be conceived he should be called the rock or foundation of the church, in that eminent fenfe in which the Apostle affures us none can be fo but JESUS CHRIST alone. It could only be his business to lay that foundation, befides which no man can lay any other. And then he might himfelf be called the foundation by a figure, in like manner as the Preachers of the gofpel are the light of the world, because they preach that Jefus who is light itself. But what argument from hence of jurifdiction and authority? or if we should admit fomething of power to be meant under this phrase, yet what confequence from this to his univerfal primacy over the catholick church and the whole college of Apostles? There is furely an eafy way to affert his Apoftolical authority, without running to this notion of Supremacy. And indeed, whatever powers were meant to be bestowed upon him, they could not be defign'd exclufively of the other Apoftles, because (which is our

2. Second remark) the fame powers were actually conferred upon them all. The occafion of our Saviour's difcourfe in this place, was that queftion he had put to his difciples concerning their opinion of his perfon and office. St. Peter, either more VOL. III. M advanced

VI.

SERM. advanced in years, or more eager in his VI. temper than the reft, was the first to make anfwer in that generous confeffion, Thou art Chrift the Son of the living God. But was this only his private belief, unknown or difapproved by the reft? No, it was the common faith and glory of them all. The fame had been acknowledg'd by Nathanael, which good Authors fuppofe to have been another name for St. Bartholo→ mew; when he faid Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Ifrael *. The fame had been confefs'd by his disciples in general; Of a truth (fay they) thou art the Son of God. And the fame, laftly, has St. Peter elsewhere declared in the name of his brethren the Apoftles, We believe (fays he) and are fure that thou art that Chrift the Son of the living God. And therefore, however our Lord might apply himfelf more directly to St. Peter, who appear'd as the mouth or spokesman of the reft, yet there can be little ground to imagine, he thould be made a Prince over them upon account of that confeffion which he had made in their name, and in which they had perfectly agreed with him. Accordingly we find that if St. Peter be here reckon'd for the rock on which the church is built, fo elsewhere are the other Apoftles; for the wall of the city (fays St. John)

John i. 49. † Mat. xiv. 33. John vi. 69. bad

had twelve foundations, and in them the names SER M. of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb*; and VI. the houshold of God is faid to be built accordingly upon the foundation of the Apoftles and Prophets, JESUS CHRIST himself being the chief corner-flone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.

If again our Lord gave unto St. Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, (whether hereby we understand the key of knowledge to inftruct men in the myfteries of his religion, the key of baptifm to fet open his church to profelytes, the key of excommuni-cation to exclude men, or of absolution to reftore them to the privilege of church communion; I say, whether in one or all of these fenfes we explain the phrafe) here is nothing given to St. Peter, but what was exprefly contain'd in the commiffion given afterwards to the whole college of Apoftles, when our bleffed Saviour fent them forth, as his Father had fent him, to teach all nations and baptize them, with promise that whofe foever fins they should remit, fhould be remitted, and whofe foever fins they should retain fhould be retained ‡.

If laftly, he had it fingly given him in charge to feed the heep of Christ, yet this too was contain'd in the fame general

* Rev. xxi. 14. + Eph. ii. 20, 21. xxvii. 19. John xx. 23, &.. M 2

↑ Mat.

John xxi. 16.

com

SERM commiffion, from whence St. Paul took VI. occafion to enjoin his Ephefian Elders, to

take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them overfeers, and to FEED the church of God which he had purchased with his own blood*; and it was St. Peter's own advice to the Elders to whom he wrote, that they should feed the flock of God. which was among them, taking the overfight thereof not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind †. Agreeably to which we find James and John mention'd together with Peter as pillars of the church, conducing at once to its fupport and ornament, and yet at the fame time giving the right-hand of fellowfhip to Paul and Barnabas, as not inferior to themselves.

But was this then, it may be ask'd, the only recompence of St. Peter's zeal, in that generous confeffion for which his Master had fo fignally pronounc'd him blessed? Was it for this he was diftinguish'd by the name of Peter, and reminded of that dif tinction in the promise now before us, only to affure him that he should enjoy like privilege and power with the other Apoftles, but have none at all fuperior to them or proper to himself? In this cafe it may seem more rational to have made no diftinction, where there was no ground for any diffe+ 1 Pet. v. 2. ‡ Gal. ii. 9.

* Acts xx. 28.

rence.

rence.

For the unfolding of this difficulty SER M. let it be added, VI.

3. Thirdly, That tho' he were co-ordinate with the other Apostles, and had no kind of fupremacy or jurisdiction over them, yet he had a fort of priority as the fenior of their college, and appears to have been first and foremost, as well in their debates and confultations, as in the execution of their facred office. It was no flight honour to this great apoftle, that thofe privileges are here promised more efpecially to him, which were afterwards conferr'd upon them all in common. It was a refpect paid to the zeal and forwardness of his affection, that he should be fo early singled out to be acquainted with the dignity and prerogatives of the Apoftolate. He was afterwards the first in preaching the gospel, and laid (as we may fay) the firft ftone in the fabrick of the church, by the converfion both of Jews and Gentiles to the faith of Christ. Three thousand of the former were converted by his fermon on that day of Pentecoft, which was made for ever memorable by the plentiful effufion of the Holy Ghost And in the council of Jerufalem, he alledg'd his miffion to Cornelius and his company, for a proof that God made choice among them, that the Gentiles by his mouth should bear the word of the gospel, and believe †. No

*Acts ii. 41.