Protestant commentators, all concur in fixing the See of Peter in Rome.

"Babylon," from which Peter addresses his first Epistle, is understood by
learned annotators, Protestant and Catholic, to refer to Rome--the word
Babylon being symbolical of the corruption then prevailing in the city of
the Caesars.

Clement, the fourth Bishop of Rome, who is mentioned in terms of praise by
St. Paul; St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, who died in 105; Irenaeus,
Origen, St. Jerome, Eusebius, the great historian, and other eminent
writers testify to St. Peter's residence in Rome, while no ancient
ecclesiastical writer has ever contradicted the statement.

John Calvin, a witness above suspicion; Cave, an able Anglican critic;
Grotius and other distinguished Protestant writers, do not hesitate to
re-echo the unanimous voice of Catholic tradition.

Indeed, no historical fact will escape the shafts of incredulity, if St.
Peter's residence and glorious martyrdom in Rome are called in question.

Chapter X.

THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPES.

The Church did not die with Peter. It was destined to continue till the
end of time; consequently, whatever official prerogatives were conferred
on Peter were not to cease at his death, but were to be handed down to his
successors from generation to generation. The Church is in all ages as
much in need of a Supreme Ruler as it was in the days of the Apostles.
Nay, more; as the Church is now more widely diffused than it was then, and
is ruled by frailer men, it is more than ever in need of a central power
to preserve its unity of faith and uniformity of discipline.

Whatever privileges, therefore, were conferred on Peter which may be
considered essential to the government of the Church are inherited by the
Bishops of Rome, as successors of the Prince of the Apostles; just as the
constitutional powers given to George Washington have devolved on the
present incumbent of the Presidential chair.

Peter, it is true, besides the prerogatives inherent in his office,
possessed also the gift of inspiration and the power of working miracles.
These two latter gifts are not claimed by the Pope, as they were personal
to Peter and by no means essential to the government of the Church. God
acts toward His Church as we deal with a tender sapling. When we first
plant it we water it and soften the clay about its roots. But when it
takes deep root we leave it to the care of Na