rsight
thereof." [260:1] This "flock of God," which was evidently equivalent to
the "Church of God," [260:2] was spread over a large territory; and yet
the apostle suggests that the elders were conjointly charged with its
supervision. Had the Churches scattered throughout so many provinces
been a multitude of independent congregations, Peter would not have
described them as one "flock" of which these rulers had the oversight.

But, though the elders of congregations in adjoining provinces could
maintain ecclesiastical intercourse, and meet together at least
occasionally or by delegates, it was otherwise with Churches in
different countries. Even these, however, cultivated the communion of
saints; for there are evidences that they corresponded with each other
by letters or deputations. The attentive reader of the inspired epistles
must have observed how the apostles contrived to keep open a door of
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,
"pr