Chapter 27

The following afternoon, closeted with Cornelius, was a memorable occasion. Peter had never met anyone like him. The gentle-spirited old Roman had given much serious thought to the future of mankind. Indeed, he disclosed a far deeper invasion of this subject than had ever been undertaken by Peter, who knew next to nothing about the history of nations.

‘Now, as for this universal peace and freedom which your Kingdom expects in the near future,’ Cornelius was saying, ‘I fear that you—and all who share your hope—are letting yourselves in for a great disappointment.’

‘But does not every sane man desire peace?’ queried Peter.

‘As an individual, yes,’ agreed Cornelius, ‘but men are not permitted to exercise their own private desires. They are in captivity to their nation, and nations have neither the talent nor the training for the achievement of peace.’

‘But every man can claim the peace of the Kingdom in his own heart,’ argued Peter.

‘Certainly!’ said Cornelius. ‘As an individual, he may acquire peace of mind, or, as you say, peace in his heart; but why call that a Kingdom?…You have been talking about a triumphant King whose reign will supersede the authority and power of all regularly constituted governments. You have been too discreet—or too polite—to tell me that the coming Kingdom of your Christos will destroy the Roman Empire; but that’s what it comes to, does it not?’

Peter had shifted uneasily in his chair.

‘I shouldn’t want to put it that way, sir,’ he said. ‘The Christos will not destroy the Empire. The Empire will destroy itself! As men see the advantages of living in good-will toward one another—’

‘They will not need the Empire,’ broke in Cornelius. ‘But it isn’t that simple! Your man of good-will is not at liberty to choose how he may treat other men. His nation decides that for him.’

‘But you yourself, my good Cornelius, believe in kindness and friendship toward all men,’ said Peter softly, ‘and you practise it, too. You are not far from the Kingdom.’

‘Further than you think, my friend,’ insisted Cornelius. ‘It is true that I do not bear arms. I do not slaughter or enslave other men. I have not the physique to be a soldier. The Empire has given me the more decent task of keeping the accounts and disbursing the funds for the building of these great wharves which will be used some day in an attack on you unhappy Jews.’

‘If it hurts your conscience, why do you do it?’ ventured Peter.