58 PROOF FROM ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. majesty of a pope, is seen in his discourse; there is no pagina nos- tras voluntatis et mandati, which now is the papal style. When he speaks highest, it is in the common name of the apostles: " Be mindful," says he, " of the command," 1.4 ivro?Slç, (that is, of the doctrine and precepts) " of us, the apostles of the Lord and Saviour," 2 Pet. iii. 2. 9. In the apostolical history, the proper place of exercising this power, (" wherein," as St Chrysostom says, " we may see the pre- dictions of Christ, which he uttered in the gospels, reduced to act, and the truth of them shining in the things themselves,"') no foot- step thereof appears. We cannot there discern that St Peter assumedany extraordinary authority, or that any deference by his brethren was rendered tohim, as to their governor or judge. No instance there occurs of his laying commands on any one apostle, or exercising any act of jurisdiction upon any one; but rather, to the contrary, divers passages are observ- able which argue that he pretended to no such thing, and that others did not understand any such thing belonging to him. His temper, indeed, and zeal commonly prompted him to be most forward in speaking and acting upon any emergency for thepropaga- tion or maintenance of the gospel; and the memory of the particu- lar charge which our Lord departing had lately put on him strongly might instigate him thereto ;2 regard tohis special gifts and sufficiency inclined the rest willingly to yield that advantage to him, and per- haps because, upon the considerations before touched, they allowed some preference in order to him ;but in other respects, as to the main administration of things, he " is but one among the rest,"3 not taking upon him in his speech or behaviour beyond others. All things are transacted by common agreement, and in the name of all concurring; no appeal in cases of diftèrence is made singly to him; no peremptory decision or decree is made by him; no orders are issued out by him alone, or in a special way; in ecclesiastical assem- blies he acts but as one member; in deliberations he only propounds his opinion, and passes a single vote; his judgment and practice are sometimes questioned, and he is put to render an account of them; he does not stand upon his authority, but assigns reasons to persuade his opinion and justify his actions; yea, sometimes he is moved by v Kai yelp Tics vrpoppño'us as iv Taïs túayyexiors ó Xprcrìc vrpaavapava,, Tairas elç ïpyav ivraPiá iarry nay, Cal iv/ al.prZy vrpaypcdTmv ralá¡avroucav vñ, da.íAtray.Chrys. in Act. i. 2 'S2ç Aeppaàç, xal a/Ç i(Larr' su slc aap& Toü Xprer,rcii vrarpaviav, ,al TO; xapoú apáTaf dei apóTepos feavrer Tau" tóyoo.Chrys. in Act. i. 15. "As being a man hot and ear- nest, and as intrusted with the flock by Christ, and as the foreman of the company, he ever begins to speak." EiaSTWf avra íyivvra l"l Tigv dpeT 7v Toir dvlpás, &c. In Act. i. 16, " Probably so it fell out by reason ofthe signal virtue of the man." 3 aETepós Trs rw "v ciap ixtivou To; zopoü.Chrys. de Sacerd. Or. iv.
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