1. “Lovest thou me more than these other disciples love me?” 2. “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these other disciples?” 3. “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these fisheries?” 1. The Archbishop of Cincinnati had the honor—if it be any—of giving the people the first of these, in the debate with Mr. Campbell. He thinks the Lord meant, “Simon, lovest thou me more than these other disciples love me?” He thinks Peter did love his Lord more than the other disciples did, and this is one of his mighty arguments to prove that Peter was the first Pope. But how Peter could answer such a question as that, unless, indeed, he was already the Pope, and _infallible_, we can not conceive. Certainly the Lord did not expect Peter to know whether he loved his Master better than the other disciples loved him, unless he was infallible. The Lord himself could have answered that question, but certainly no man could. Such a question was not only, in the very nature of the case, one that no man could answer, but one that could have no practical bearing nor use. Not only so, but the answer of the Lord was inappropriate, if he had intended Peter to be Pope. He commanded him, “Feed my sheep.” This was the last thing he would have commanded him if he had intended him to be Pope. In that case he would have commanded him, “_Fleece_ my sheep,” and not “_feed_ my sheep.” The business of Popes has ever been to _fleece_ the sheep, and not to _feed_ them. 2. The question, “Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these other disciples?” though Peter might have been able to answer it, would certainly have been one of but little importance. Not only so, but the language is scarcely capable of this import, and, therefore, it is not probable that such was the intention of it.