This  is  an  additional  proof  that  the  Church
was  intended  to  be  an  organised  kingdom,
not  a  fortuitous  collection  of  individual
believers,  who  would  inevitably  differ  among
themselves  even  in  essentials.  A  divinely
guided  society  must  recognise  some  authority
competent  to  declare  the  truth  in  important
matters.  Some  truths  indeed  have  been
immutably  laid  down,  such  as  the  funda-
mental laws  of  morality  and  the  truths
embodied  in  the  creeds.  These  the  Church
has  no  power  to  alter.  But,  apart  from  them,
there  are  many  matters  with  which  it  must
deal  for  itself.  Christ  did  not  give  it  an
unchangeable  code  of  laws  fitted  to  deal  with
any  emergency  that  might  arise,  but  author-
ity to  act  for  itself  under  the  guidance  of  the
Holy  Spirit,  to  make  its  own  laws,  and  to
repeal,  alter,  or  add  to  them  as  the  changing
circumstances  of  its  history  might  require.
Such  authority  clearly  could  not,  except
in  the  very  first  days,  be  exercised  by  the
whole  body  of  believers.  Ultimately  the
authority  derived  from  Christ  is  diffused
throughout  the  Church,  but  in  practice  it
must  be  committed  to  definitely  appointed
officers.  These,  in  the  first  instance,  were
the  apostles  to  whom  the  words  already
cited  were  primarily  addressed.  But  their
authority  did  not  expire  with  them.  For,
as  has  just  been  shown,  it  was  necessary  that
it  should  continue  throughout  the  Church's
history.  Both  from  Christ's  words  to  them
(Mt.  2819'20)  and  from  their  subsequent
actions  it  appears  that  they  were  commis-
sioned to  inaugurate  a  continuing  ministry.
