Page:William John Sparrow-Simpson - Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (1909).djvu/26

 6 God will "comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work"; and says "the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." So St Peter desires that God would "stablish, strengthen, settle" the Christian; and says that Christians are "established in the present truth." The Revelation of St John again says: "Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, which are ready to die."

This scriptural use of the term "strengthen," or "stablish," shows conclusively that any kind of moral support may be intended. The strengthening may be that which Divine Grace supplies; or that which comes from the knowledge of the Truth; or that which comes from the encouragement of Christian ministers. But in no solitary instance is there any suggestion of infallibility as essential to enable one to be a strengthened Thus, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren," would naturally mean, When thou hast by repentance recovered from thine own moral infirmity, do thou become a moral support to the impulsive and the weak. It is a merciful promise to St Peter before his sin, of restoration to Apostleship after the sin had been committed. It suggests that even through the denial he may gain a humility and self-knowledge which may enlarge his sympathies and increase his strength. It is all in the moral rather than in the purely intellectual sphere.

2. But further: The utterance, "strengthen thy brethren," is a command and not a promise. We cannot infer, from a duty enjoined, its invariable fulfilment. Otherwise, we are all perfect: For this command is laid upon us all. Moreover, whatever Peter