manifest in Christ in the whole Court, and to all the others; and a good many410 of the brethren, trusting to my bonds, the more exceedingly dare fearlessly to speak the word.”411 Now Nero had then cast him into prison. For just as some robber having set foot in the house, while all are sleeping, when stealing every thing,412 if he see any one having lit a lamp, both extinguishes the light and slays him who holds the lamp, in order that he may be allowed in security to steal and rob the property of others; so truly also the Cæsar Nero then, just as any robber and burglar while all were sleeping a deep and unconscious slumber; robbing the property of all, breaking into marriage chambers,413 subverting houses, display- ing every form of wickedness; when he saw Paul having lighted a lamp throughout the world; (the word of his teaching;) and reproving his wickedness, exerted himself both to extinguish what was preached, and to put the teachers out of the way; in order that he might be allowed with authority to do anything he pleased; and after binding that holy man, cast him into prison. It was at that time then that the blessed Paul wrote these things. Who would not have been astounded? who would not have marvelled? or rather who could adequately have been astounded at and admired that noble and heaven-reaching soul; in that, while bound in Rome and imprisoned, at so great a distance as that, he wrote a letter to the Philippians? For you know how great is the distance between Macedonia and Rome. But neither did the length of the way, nor the amount of time (required), nor the press of business, nor the peril and the dangers coming one upon another, nor anything else, drive out his love for and remembrance of the disciples; but he retained them all in his mind; and not so strongly were his hands bound with the chains as his soul was bound together and rivetted by his longing for the disciples:414 which very thing itself indeed also declaring, in the preface of the Epistle he said, “On account of my having you in my heart, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel.”415 And just as a King, having ascended upon his throne at morning-tide and taken his seat in the royal courts, immediately receives from all quarters innumerable letters; so truly he also, just as in royal courts, seated in the dungeon, both received and sent his letters in far greater number; the nations from all quarters referring to his wisdom everything about416 what had taken place among themselves; and he admin- istered more business than the reigning monarch in proportion to his having had a larger dominion entrusted to him. For in truth God had brought and put into his hands not those 410 Τοὺς πλείονας. In the Greek of that day = πλ™ιονας: like Lat., plures, modified and weakened comparative. 411 Philip. i. 12–14. 412 ̔Υφαιρόυμενος, lit. secretly taking for himself. Lat. surripio, So, steal, stealth. 413 Comp. Cic. in Verr. 11, 1, 3, non adulterum, sed expugnatorem pudicitiæ. 414 Πόθῳ, desiderio: absence being a test of love. 415 Philip. i. 7. 416 ̔Υπ™ρ. As Lat. super. Multa super Priamo ragitans, super Hectore multa. Virg. Æn. i. 750. 205 Concerning Lowliness of Mind.