nor in the inclination of the human heart towards evil. They were just as intelligent as we are, and perhaps wiser.
Warfare illustrates the point well, because here most people would agree one is involved with evil, and no-one in this country would suggest that irresponsible decisions be taken. Nor is it an unfair illustration, because the Christian life in the community is often represented as a warfare, both in Pauline Epistles and in popular hymns, although the imagery is sometimes embarrassingly facile. In warfare, it may be that no-one has equalled the ability and genius of Alexander the Great. I am not qualified to discuss whether Napoleon was his equal as a strategist or tactician; but it is surely fair comment that by the end of his career the sword had been blunted in Napoleon's hand, due it is said to his unwillingness to delegate, trust his subordinates, and create a staff. Furthermore, his tactic of marching masses of infantry at what he regarded as the crucial point of the enemy line may have served him wonderfully well at Austerlitz; but it had its shortcomings exposed at Waterloo when he ended by marching his columns of infantry, ten deep, up the hill towards the Allied positions. Colonel Colborne marched his regiment out of line, and raked one or two such columns with enfilading fire, so that they fled in confusion, and Napoleon's final assault ended in rout. Direct assaults, without more, seem to have little to recommend them; certainly not in cross-examination. So it is sobering to reflect that a man who lived over two thousand years ago may be still the greatest tactician of all time. It is sobering to reflect too that by far the greatest religious genius of all time walked this earth also about two thousand years ago. Men themselves do not change; their ability if anything diminishes as the centuries pass. What has changed has been the means at man's disposal; in war, the weapons with which wars have been fought, and the means of transporting men and materials, coupled with the…