times?" Hom. 11. in Psal. 1. T. v. p. 589. (Inter spurias.) “How zealous is Peter! How sensible that the flock was by Christ committed to his charge! How does he shew himself the Chief in this Council ! (Acts xv.) As having received from Christ the charge of the flock; as being the first of the choir, he is the first to speak with authority on the question; because to him all had been made subject. For Christ says to him: Do thou, being converted, confirm thy brethren.” Hom. iii. in Acta. T. ix. p. 23, 26. “For what reason did Christ shed his blood ? Certainly to gain those sheep, the care of which he committed to Peter and his suc e Sacerd. L. ii. c. 1. T. 1. 372. "Why, on this occasion, (John xxi.) passing over the other Apostles, does Christ address Peter alone? Because he was the chosen one of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, and the head of the choir; and for this reason Paul went up to Jerusalem principally to visit him.” (Gal. i. 18.) Hom. lxxxvii. in Joan. T. viii. p. 525. “Though all were Apostles, and all were to sit on twelve seats, all left what they had, all were together ; Christ took with him three. (Matt. xvii.) Again, of these three all were not of equal rank. Placing Peter over the rest, he said to him, Lorest thou me more than these?” (John xxi.) Hom. xxxi. in c. xvi. ad Rom. T. ix. p. 750. "I say to thee, thou art Peter,” &c. He here raises his mind to higher thoughts, and appoints him the Pastor of his Church. What God alone can grant, that is, the pardon of sins, and that his Church should remain unshaken in the midst of storms, under the guidance of a fisherman, this God promises. The Lord said to Jeremiah, (i. 18.) I have placed thee as an iron pillar, and as a
