But, if the alleged fact cannot be established from the writers of the three earliest centuries; it is obvious to the meanest capacity, that it can never be established from the interested fictions of a later period.
2. We may, however, advance beyond negativeness: though even that were amply sufficient; for no man can be justly required to admit an alleged fact, without so much as a shadow of historical substantiation. Positively, we can say: that, in the writers of the three first ages, not only is there no testimony to be found for the asserted fact of Peter’s diocesan Roman Episcopate, but we are absolutely encountered with direct testimony against it.
(1.) Irenèus of Lyons, who lived from the latter end of the first century to the latter end of the second, distinctly attests: that the Church of Rome was JOINTLY founded by the TWO Apostles Peter and Paul; and that, When the TWO Apostles had thus JOINTLY founded it, they JOINTLY delivered the Episcopate of their newly founded Society to Linus. Accordingly, in strict agreement with this account of the transaction, Irenèus places Linus the FIRST in his list of the twelve successive Roman Bishops, who governed that Church, from the time of its original joint foundation by Peter and Paul, down to the year 175 when he published his Work against Heresies. [58a]
Now such an account is plainly incompatible with the pretended fact: that Peter was the first diocesan Bishop of Rome. For the account states: that Peter and Paul, having jointly founded the Roman Church, committed the episcopate of it to Linus. Whence it dearly follows: that the first diocesan Bishop of Rome was Linus, not Peter.
(2.) The evidence of Irenèus is directly confirmed by the ancient author of the Apostolical Constitutions.
He gives us a list of the primitive apostolically ordained Bishops: and, in the course of it, he unequivocally states, even in so many words, that Linus was consecrated the FIRST Bishop of the Roman Church; adding what is not unworthy the attention of the Latin Clergy, that Linus was so consecrated the FIRST Roman Bishop, not by Peter but by Paul. [58b]
IV. On the grounds now stated, many persons will incline to rest, either partially or wholly, in the strongly expressed judgment of the learned Scaliger.
As for the coming of Peter to Rome, HIS ROMAN EPISCOPATE OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, and his final martyrdom at Rome, no man, whose head can boast a grain of common sense, will believe a single syllable. [59a]
CHAPTER VIII.
REMARKABLE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MADE BY THE ROMISH CLERGY.
So far as respects the evidence upon which stands the alleged apostolicity of the peculiar doctrines and practices of Romanism, it will now be useful to hear the various acknowledgments which have been made by the Latin Clergy themselves.