The Newtown bee., 1899-08-11

Text, Philippians 20: "FOr our conVersa-
tlon Is in heaven"
The word "conversatlon" usually de-
notes the free and familiar interchange
Of thoughts in speech. The word occurs
several times in the Scriptures, but never,
| think, in this sense. st Paul says to
the Ephesians, "Ye have heard Of my
conversation in times past in the Jews
religion" But he means not only his
manner OF talking but also his manner of
acting.
He instructs Timothy to be an example
OF the believers in conversation, or gen.
eral department. st Peter writes to the
Jewish believers "Ye were not redeem.
ed with corruptible things from your
vain conversation received by tradition
from your tathers"-that is from the
course of life prescribed by the Mosaic
economy. And he says Lot was vexed
with the filthy conversation Of the wicked
people of Sodom; and he means not only
that their conversation was filthy, which
was probably the case, but their morals
and their practices were unclean. Paul
instructs the Philippians: "Only let
your conversation be as becometh the
Gospel" Here he refers to their con.
duct as citizens. And the exhortation Ia
still pertinent to all Christians in this
country and every other. Let your con-
duct In all civic relations be [suchl as
becometh the Gospel. In the text he
says: "For our conversation is in
heaven" This does not refer to our So
clable intercourse with each other-that
Ia not In heaven but here,-but to our
civic relations as members of the king
dom of God; to the citizenship conferred
upon US by the grace of God in Christ
his Son, and so the Revised Version
translates it: "For our citizenship is in
heaven"
1t has pleased the Creator to confer on
human beings the benefits Of civil gov
eminent, and for this purpose to ascot
ate them in tribes, states, nations. In
dividual welfare is promoted by social
relations and social order. And social
order requires the regulation Of individ-
ual conduct by wholesome rules. And
the imposition, Interpretation and en-
forcement Of rules supposes rulers, at
tending to these offices. A citizen ia one
of the units of the civic body. The
writer of the text was member of the
commonwealth of Israel, and carried him.
self IN this relation, as he observes, in
all good conscience before God.
HE WAS THEREFORE, AN IDEAL CITIZEN,
mat such an one as any commuuity
might be thankful for and proud Of. But
good citizenship in this instance was not
duly appreciated among his countrymen
and by the Hebrew authorities; and fail
60 bring him the protection to which II
entitled him. 1t was bis wish and right
to lead quiet and peaceable life in al
goodness and honesty. But goodness
and honesty instead ofAringing him civic
tranquility, in no small measure deprived
him Of It. II he had been disposed &c
have permanent residence It waG
scarcely possible tor him to find one
Wherever he went he was liable to be
come a subject for mob. And he coult
never get beyond the reach Of the unre
lentinQ hatred of the Jewish authorities
Ne was bounded from city to city, de
famed, arrested, imprisoned, logged
atoned, accused Co the Roman govern
ment As . pestIlept disturber Of the peace
ana at length suffered Che death OF Q fel
on, PhilsppI, 10 which place thls lettei
was addressed, and the irst city In Eu
rope 10 hear che gospel, had heard I
from bic lips. And lt had produced q
ssraation~-Indeed commotion--there
Ana there the heavy hand OF the Roman
authorities was laid uppn him In aconrg.
Ing and imprisonment, Bat the Iefa on