human
Great Lord, it is a pity. You are one of the few who have left our Master without accomplishing their purpose. It would not be quite so hard as you think. He Himself says that if a man only has a good will he is never lost. The will to live for ever is the thing.
gpt
What do you mean? exclaimed Simeon.
human
His demands are quite impossible.
gpt
Must everything be taken so literally? said James.
human
The Master always puts the ideal high, and expresses it in lofty words, so that it may the better stay in the memory.
gpt
To give up all I possess! To become horribly poor----?
human
Look at us. Have we given up everything? We never had much more than we have now, and what we had we have still. Our brother Thomas has only one coat because he is full-blooded; I have two coats because I easily feel cold. If I had poor legs the Master would allow me an ass like Thaddeus. Every one has what he needs. You need more than we do because you are accustomed to more. But you cannot use all that you have for yourself. And yet you need it for the many hundreds of men you employ, who work for the good of the country, and live by you. I say that your property belongs to you by right just as my second coat to me, and that you can quite well be His disciple.
gpt
You chatter too much, Philip, said James reprovingly.
human
If a man makes a pilgrimage of repentance towards eternal life, he doesn't travel like the Emperor of the Indies, or if he does, he doesn't know what he wants. Believe me, noble sir, wealth is always dangerous, even for life. The best protection against envy, hate, and sudden attacks is poverty.
gpt
Brothers, it must be clearly understood that he who desires the Kingdom of Heaven must give up everything that causes him unrest; otherwise he cannot be entirely with the Father. But you, turning to the great man from Jerusalem,
human
I would willingly do one thing, said Simeon.
gpt
Good! then say to your slaves, 'You are free. If you will continue to serve me, I will treat you well. If you prefer to go your own way, take what you require of good clothing and mules.' Will you do that, stranger?
human
You fanatic! shouted Simeon angrily.
gpt
What notions you have about men. They're not like that. Life's very different from that!
human
But life will be like that some day,
gpt
He is a Messiah who destroys the Kingdom instead of building it,