self, nor sent himself, nor took the keyes of Heaven of himself, but al of his Father. He had his commission the very houre of his incarnation. And though Aug. li. 2. retr. c. 21.S. Aug. sometimes referre the word (Petra) to Christ in this sentence (which no doubt he did because the terminations in Latin are divers, and because he examined not the nature of the original wordes which Christ spake, nor of the Greek, and therfore the Adversaries which otherwise flee to the tongues, should not in this case alleage him) yet he never denieth but Peter also is the Rock & head of the Church, saying that himself expounded it of Peter * in many places, and alleageth also S. Amb. for the same in his Hymne which the Church singeth. In Psal. 66 De verb.
Do. sec. Jo. ser. 49. ser. 15. 16. 26. 29. de Sanctis. Annot. in Jobe. 30And so do we alleage the holy Councel of Chalcedon, Act. 3 pag. 118. Tertul. de præscrip. Origen, Ho. 5 in Exo. S. Cyprian, De unit. Ec. S. Hilarie, Can. 16. in Mat. S. Ambrose, Ser. 47. 68. li. 6 in c. 9. Luca. S. Hierom, Li. 1. in Jovin, & in c. 2 Esa. & in c. 16 Hier. S. Epiphanius, In Anchor. S. Chrysostom, Ho. 55 in Mat. S. Cyril, Li. 2 c. 12. com in Jo. S. Leo, Ep. 89. S. Gregorie, Li. 4 ep. 42 ind. 13. Theod. li. 5. hær Fabul. c. de pænit.* and others; every one of them saying expresly, that the Church was founded and builded upon Peter. For though sometimes they say the Church to be builded on Peters faith, yet they meane not (as our Adversaries do unlearnedly take them) that it should be builded upon faith either separated from the man, or in any other man: but upon faith as in him who here confessed that faith.
18. Rock.) The Adversaries hearing also the Fathers sometimes say, that Peter had these promises and prerogatives, as bearing the Person of al the Apostles or of the whole Church, deny absurdly that himself in Person had these prerogatives. As though Peter had been the Proctour only of the Church or of the Apostles, confessing the faith and receaving these things in other mens names. Where the holy Doctours meane only, that these prerogatives were not given to him for his owne use, but for the good of the whole Church, and to be imparted to every vocation according to the measure of their callings; and that these great privileges given to Peter should not decay or die with his Person, but be perpetual in the Church in his successours. Hier. ep. 7. to. 2.Therfore S. Hierom to Damasus taketh this Rock not to be Peters person only, but his successours and his Chaire. I (saith he) folowing no cheefe or principal but Christ, joyne my self to the communion of Peters chaire, upon that rocke I know the Church was built. Psa. cont. part. Donat to 7 Leo ep. 89.And of that same Apostolike Chaire S. August. saith, That same is the Rock which the proud gates of Hel do not overcome. And S. Leo, Our Lord would the Sacrament or mysterie of this gift so to pertaine unto the office of al the Apostles, that he placed it principally in blessed S. Peter the cheefe of al the Apostles, that from him as from a certaine head he might poure out his guiftes, as it were through the whole body; that he might understand himself to be an aliene from the divine mysterie that should presume to revolt from the soliditie or steadfastnes of Peter.
18. Build my Church.) The Church or house of Christ was only promised here to be builded upon him (which was fulfilled, Jo. 21, 15.) the foundation, stone & other pillers or matter being yet in preparing; and Christ himself being not only the supereminent foundation but also the founder of the same; which is an other more excellent qualitie then was in Peter, for which he calleth it my Church: meaning specially the Church of the new Testament. Which was not perfectly formed and finished, and distincted from the Synagogue til Whitsunday, though Christ gave Peter and the rest their commissions actually before his Ascension.
18. Gates of Hel.) Because the Church is resembled to a house or a citie, the adversarie powers also be likened to a contrarie house or towne, the gates wherof, that is to say, the fortitude, or impugnations shal never prevaile against the citie of Christ. And so by this promise we are assured that no heresies nor other wicked attempts can prevail against the Church builded upon Peter, which the Fathers call Peters See and the Romane Church. Psal cont. part. Donat.Count (saith S. Augustine) the Priests from the very See of Peter, and in that order of Fathers consider who to whom hath succeeded: that same is the rock which the proud gates of Hel do not overcome. And in an other place, De util. cred. c. 17.that is it which hath obtained the top of authoritie, Heretikes in vaine barking round about it.
19. To thee.) In saying, to thee wil I give, it is plaine that as he gave the keyes to him, so he builded the Church upon him. Cyp. Epist. 73.So saith S. Cyprian, To Peter first of al, upon whom our Lord built the Church, and from whom he instituted and shewed the beginning of unitie, did he give this power, that that should be loosed in the Heavens, which he had loosed in earth. Greg. l. 4. ep. 33 ind. 13.Wherby appeareth the vaine cavil of our Adversaries, which say the Church was built upon Peters Confession only, common to him and the rest, and not upon his Person, more then upon the rest.
