First Apology 15

About self-control, then, he said this: “Whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery in his heart before God.” And: “If your right eye causes you to stumble, cut it out; for it is better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than to be sent with two into the eternal fire.” And: “Whoever marries a woman divorced from another man commits adultery.” And: “There are some who were made eunuchs by men, and some who were born eunuchs, and some who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven; but not all accept this.” So those who by human law contract second marriages are sinners in the sight of our Teacher, as are those who look at a woman to desire her; for not only the one who commits adultery in deed is rejected by him, but also the one who wishes to commit adultery, since not only our deeds are manifest to God but also our thoughts. And many men and women of sixty and seventy years, who were made disciples of Christ from childhood, remain pure; and I boast that I could show such people in every race of mankind. And what shall we say of the countless multitude of those who have turned from licentiousness and learned these things? For Christ called not the righteous or the self-controlled to repentance, but the ungodly and licentious and unjust. He said thus: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” For the heavenly Father desires the repentance of the sinner rather than his punishment. And about loving all people he taught this: “If you love those who love you, what new thing do you do? For even fornicators do this. But I say to you: Pray for your enemies, and love those who hate you, and bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” And about sharing with those in need and doing nothing for glory he said this: “Give to everyone who asks, and do not turn away the one who wishes to borrow. For if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what new thing do you do? Even the tax collectors do this. But do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy and robbers break in; but store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? Or what will he give in exchange for it? Store up treasures, then, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys.” And: “Be kind and merciful, as your Father also is kind and merciful, and makes his sun rise on sinners and the righteous and the wicked. Do not be anxious about what you will eat or what you will wear. Are you not worth more than the birds and the beasts? And God feeds them. Do not be anxious, then, about what you will eat or what you will wear; for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added to you. For where the treasure is, there also is the mind of man.” And: “Do not do these things to be seen by people; otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”