att. vii. 13; Rom. vi. 21; 2 Cor. xi. 15; Heb. vi. 8; 1 Pet.
iv. 17.

[3] I thus attempt to give the meaning of _politeuma_, so far as I
understand it. The R.V. renders it "_citizenship_," and
"_commonwealth_" in the margin. The usage of the word in Greek
literature amply justifies either, and either well suits the general
context. The Apostle means that Christians are citizens of the
heavenly City as to their _status_, and are therefore "obliged by their
nobility" to live, however far from their home, as those who belong to
it, and represent it. What seems lacking however in the rendering of
the R.V. is the idea of _locality_, which (to me) was clearly present
to St Paul's mind in his use of _politeuma_ here. The proof of this
lies in the words _ex ou_ just below; not _ex on_ (_ouranon_) but _ex
ou_ (_politeumatos_): I can find _no proof_ of the assertion (Moulton's
_Winer_, p. 177) that _ex ou_ is a mere equivalent for _hothen_, and so
may refer to the plural _ouranoi_. The rendering "_seat_ of
citizenship" seems fairly to represent _politeuma_ thus.--The A.V.
"_conversation_" (Lat. _conversatio_, "intercourse of life") probably
represents an impression of the translators that the Apostle is as it
were echoing i. 27, _axios tu euaggeliou politeuesthe_. But the
imagery here is different, and definite.

[4] See note just above on _ex ou_.

[5] Perhaps read _auta_. But the translation must remain the same.

[6] F. R. Havergal.

_PURITY AND PEACE IN THE PRESENT LORD_

"Now the Christians, O King, as men who know God, ask from Him
petitions which are proper for Him to give and for them to receive; and
thus they accomplish the course of their lives. And because they
acknowledge the goodnesses of God towards them, lo! on account of them
there flows forth the beauty that is in the world."--_Apology of
Aristides, about_ A.D. 130; _translated by_ MRS RENDEL HARRIS.

CHAPTER XI

PURITY AND PEACE IN THE PRESENT LORD

PHILIPPIANS iv. 1-9

Euodia and Syntyche--Conditions to unanimity--Great uses of small
occasions--Connexion to the paragraphs--The fortress and the
sentinel--A golden chain of truths--Joy in the
Lord--Yieldingness--Prayer in everything--Activities of a heart at rest

Ver. 1. +So, my brethren beloved and longed for+, _missed_ indeed, at
this long distance from you, +my joy and crown+ of victory
(_stephanos_), +thus+, as having such certainties and such aims, with
such a Savio