The answer to this question shows the ground on which the essential Oneness of the Church is based. And it is clearly this. The Apostles and Bishops who founded the various Churches were all commissioned officers of one King--the King of "The Kingdom of Heaven"--and they were commissioned, not to found Churches bearing their own, names, independent one of another, but to extend the King's dominion. And their authority and power to act were wholly dependent upon their acting in the King's Name, and with His concurrence. For when the commission was given to the Apostles to "go into all the world and make disciples of all nations," these words were added by the King, "And lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (S. Matt. xxviii. 20). From which we see also that the continuance of the Unity was secured, in the same way, through the Apostles' successors, after they themselves should be called to rest. And whilst the Apostles and Bishops were thus appointed as the agents to extend "The Kingdom of Heaven," the King Himself was the actual bond of union, securing the essential unity of the Church, wherever subjects were brought in. One King over all held all together. As time passed and various branches of the One Church were formed, there were also other ties which were felt to bind Christians one with another as one body. The Church was a spiritual Kingdom; and by one and the same Holy Spirit all had been moved to accept the King, and all had been new-born as the children of God. And as all had received the same Holy Spirit, so all looked forward to the same hope of eternal life; all having been called to enter the same state of salvation, in which the prize was within their reach. All had been taught the same articles of Faith. All had been baptized, with the same form, into the Name of the Blessed Trinity. And so S. Paul summed up their bonds of union in these words, "One Body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one Hope of your calling; one Lord; one Faith; one Baptism; one God" (Ephes. iv. 4-6). But the unity of a Kingdom depends, not merely upon having one Head and certain general laws and ordinances; but also upon the ready obedience of the subjects. "Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation" (S. Matt. xii. 25). An earthly kingdom is strong only when the people are united together in loyally obeying the king, and the laws, and officers of the kingdom. It is weak when suspicion and factious opposition prevail; or when the subordinate princes exercise their authority without respect to the general good. And, if it does not fall altogether, it is an unhappy kingdom indeed, when these opposing interests break out into open rupture and civil war.