Objections Answered | 9

9. The Centurion and Cornelius Were Not Rebuked

Objection.

The Centurion and Cornelius were Christians and soldiers and highly approved of God for their faith and piety, nor were they directed by Christ or his apostles to renounce their profession.

Therefore, the profession of arms is not inconsistent with Christian duty.

Answer.

They were first soldiers and then Christians and we have no evidence that they continued in the profession of arms. Nor are we warranted to say that they were not directed to renounce that profession, as the Scriptures are silent on the subject.

Peter, it appears, tarried a number of days with Cornelius, and he doubtless explained to him the spirit and precepts of the gospel.

It is very probable that neither Cornelius nor the Centurion continued as soldiers in any other sense than they were soldiers of Christ,

as the idolatrous rites enjoined on the Roman soldiers were totally inconsistent with the Christian character, aside from the unlawfulness of war itself.

Besides, the Roman soldiers were as often engaged in offensive as in defensive war.

Therefore, if the argument has any force on the question, it will tolerate not only defensive but also offensive war, and also the idolatrous rites of the Roman armies.