But looking more closely into the nature of this dignity, since Christ, by the bestowal of heavenly gifts, caused Peter to be conspicuous through the firmness of his own faith, and through the charge of confirming the faith of his brethren, we can call it by no fitter name than a Primacy of faith. For it has these two qualities: it cannot fail itself; and it confirms others. And for the authority which it carries, such a Primacy of faith cannot even be imagined without at the same time imagining the office by which Peter was bound to watch over the firmness and integrity of the common faith. In this office two things are involved; first, the right to, and therefore the possession of, all things necessary for its fulfilment; and secondly, the duty by which all were bound to agree in the profession of one faith with Peter. So that Peter's dignity, rightly termed the Primacy of faith, mainly consists in the supreme right of demanding from all an agreement in faith with him. It[34] remains to explain the proper force of the word _confirm_. Now this is a term of architecture, and as such is joined with other terms relating to that art, as by S. Peter, "the God of all grace--Himself fit you together" (as living spiritual stones,) "confirm, strengthen, ground you."[35] It means, to make anything fit so firmly that it cannot be shaken. Thus in Holy Writ it frequently bears metaphorically a moral signification, such as encouraging, supporting, as we say, confirming the resolution, as in the passage just quoted; and again, "Be watchful, and _confirm_ the things that remain, which are ready to die."[36] Now it cannot be doubted that the phrase "confirm thy brethren," carries a moral sense very like that in which the word _confirm_, when applied to the spiritual building of the Church, is used of God and of Christ,[37] from whom the Church has both its being and its perseverance to the end, and again of the Apostles, who strengthen the flock entrusted to them by the imparting spiritual gifts, as S. Paul says, "I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual grace to strengthen you;"[38] or, again, of Bishops, who, as sent by the Apostles, and charged by the Holy Spirit with the government of the Church, are bid to be watchful, and see that those who stand do not fall, and those who are in danger do not perish.[39] Accordingly, when it is said to Peter, "And thou in thy turn one day confirm thy brethren," _the charge and office are laid upon him, as an architect divinely chosen, of holding together, strengthening, and keeping in their place, the several parts of the ecclesiastical structure_. But what are these _parts_ to be confirmed, and what is the _nature_ of the confirmation?