access to their converts by means of itinerating preachers; [260:3] and the same agency seems to have been continued in succeeding generations.  Disciples travelling into strange lands were furnished with “epistles of commendation” [260:4] to the foreign Churches; and Christian teachers, who had these credentials, were permitted freely to officiate in the congregations which they visited.  It is an extraordinary fact that, during the lives of the apostles, there were preachers, in whom they had no confidence, who were yet in full standing, and who went from place to place addressing apostolic Churches.  Having found their way into the ministry in a particular locality, they set out to other regions provided with their “letters of commendation;” and, on the strength of these testimonials, they were readily recognised as heralds of the cross.  The apostles deemed it prudent to advise their correspondents not to rest satisfied with the certificates of these itinerant evangelists, but to try them by a more certain standard.  “If there come any unto you,” says John, “and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” [261:1]—­“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” [261:2] Strange as it may now appear, even some of the apostles had personal enemies among the primitive preachers, and yet when these proclaimed the truth, they were suffered to proceed without interruption.  “Some indeed,” says Paul, “preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will.  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds; but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” [261:3]

The preceding statements may enable us to appreciate the unity of the Apostolic Church.  This unity was not perfect; for there were false brethren who stirred up strife, and false teachers who fomented divisions.  But these elements of discord no more disturbed the general unity of the Church than the presence of a few empty or blasted ears of corn affects the productiveness of an abundant harvest.  As a body, the disciples of Christ were never so united as in the first century.  Heresy had yet made little impression; schism was scarcely known; and charity, exerting her gentle influence with the brotherhood, found it comparatively easy to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.  The members of the Church had “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”  But their unity was very different from uniformity.  They had no canonical hours, no clerical costume, no liturgies.  The prayers of ministers and people varied according to circumstances, and were dictated by their hopes and fears, their wants and sympathies.  When they met for worship, the devotional exercises