First Apology 16

About being patient and ready to serve all and free from anger, this is what he said: “To the one who strikes your cheek, offer the other also, and do not hinder the one who takes your tunic or cloak. Whoever is angry is liable to the fire. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Let your good works shine before people, so that seeing them they may marvel at your Father who is in heaven.” For we must not resist; nor does he wish us to imitate the wicked, but he exhorted us by patience and gentleness to lead all people away from shame and the love of evil. This we can show in the case of many who have lived among you: they changed from being violent and tyrannical, overcome either by observing the constancy of their neighbors' lives, or by noticing the strange patience of fellow travelers when they were cheated, or by experience of those they did business with. About not swearing at all, but always speaking the truth, he commanded thus: “Do not swear at all; but let your yes be yes, and your no no; what is more than these comes from the evil one.” And that we must worship God alone he persuaded us, saying: “The greatest commandment is: You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve, with all your heart and with all your strength, the Lord God who made you.” And when someone came to him and said, “Good teacher,” he answered, saying, “No one is good except God alone, who made all things.” And let those who are not found living as he taught be known not to be Christians, even if they speak the teachings of Christ with their tongue; for he said that not those who only speak, but those who also do the works, will be saved. For he said thus: “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. For whoever hears me and does what I say hears the one who sent me. And many will say to me: Lord, Lord, did we not eat and drink and do mighty works in your name? And then I will say to them: Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Then there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when the righteous shine like the sun, and the unrighteous are sent into the eternal fire. For many will come in my name, outwardly clothed in sheepskins, but inwardly being ravenous wolves; by their works you will know them. And every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And we ask that you too punish those who do not live in accordance with his teachings, but are only called Christians.