Saint Augustine (354-430)

Against Faustus

Translated by Richard Stothert

Book XIX

Chapter 28

So we find in the Old Testament all or nearly all the counsels and precepts which Christ introduces with the words “But I say unto you.” Against anger it is written, “Mine eye is troubled because of anger”; and again, “Better is he that conquers his anger, than he that taketh a city.” Against hard words, “The stroke of a whip maketh a wound; but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.” Against adultery in the heart, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” It is not, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”; but, “Thou shalt not covet.” The apostle, in quoting this, says: “I had not known lust, unless the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Regarding patience in not offering resistance, a man is praised who “giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him, and who is filled full with reproach.” Of love to enemies it is said: “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.” This also is quoted by the apostle.” In the Psalm, too, it is said, “I was a peace maker among them that hated peace”; and in many similar passages. In connection also with our imitating God in refraining from taking revenge, and in loving even the wicked, there is a passage containing a full description of God in this character; for it is written: “To Thee alone ever belongeth great strength, and who can withstand the power of Thine arm? For the whole world before Thee is as a little grain of the balance; yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down upon the earth. But Thou hast mercy upon all, for Thou canst do all things, and winkest at the sins of men, because of repentance. For Thou lovest all things that are, and abhorrest nothing which Thou hast made; for never wouldest Thou have made anything if Thou hadst hated it. And how could anything have endured, if it had not been Thy will? or been preserved, if not called by Thee? But Thou sparest all; for they are Thine, O Lord, Thou lover of souls. For Thy good Spirit is in all things; therefore chastenest Thou them by little and little that offend, and warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they have offended, that learning their wickedness, they may believe in Thee, O Lord.” Christ exhorts us to imitate this long-suffering goodness of God, who maketh the sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust; that we may not be careful to revenge, but may do good to them that hate us, and so may be perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect. From another passage in these ancient books we learn that, by not exacting the vengeance due to us, we obtain the remission of our own sins; and that by not forgiving the debts of others, we incur the danger of being refused forgiveness when we pray for the remission of our own debts: “He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and He will surely keep his sin in remembrance. Forgive thy neighbor the hurt that he hath done to thee; so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest. One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon of the Lord? He showeth no mercy to a man who is like himself; and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins? If he that is but flesh nourishes hatred, and asks for favor from the Lord, who will entreat for the pardon of his sins?”

Book XIX Chapter 27

Book XIX Chapter 29