Page:Ante-Nicene Christian Library Vol 2.djvu/33

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THE FIRST APOLOGY OF JUSTIN.
19

but sinners to repentance."[1] For the heavenly Father desires rather the repentance than the punishment of the sinner. And of our love to all, He taught thus: "If ye love them that love you, what new thing do ye? for even fornicators do this. But I say unto you, Pray for your enemies, and love them that hate you, and bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you."[2] And that we should communicate to the needy, and do nothing for glory, He said, "Give to him that asketh, and from him that would borrow turn not away; for if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what new thing do ye? even the publicans do this. Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where robbers break through; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for it? Lay up treasure, therefore, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt."[3] And, "Be ye kind and merciful, as your Father also is kind and merciful, and maketh His sun to rise on sinners, and the righteous, and the wicked. Take no thought what ye shall eat, or what ye shall put on: are ye not better than the birds and the beasts? And God feedeth them. Take no thought, therefore, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall put on; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you. For where his treasure is, there also is the mind of a man."[4] And, "Do not these things to be seen of men; otherwise ye have no reward from your Father which is in heaven."[5]


  1. Matt. ix. 13.
  2. Matt. v. 46, 44; Luke vi. 28.
  3. Luke vi. 30, 34; Matt. vi. 19, xvi. 26, vi. 20.
  4. Luke vi. 36; Matt. v. 45, vi. 25, 26, 33, 21.
  5. Matt. vi. 1.