As to justice, he was content with repeating the well-known axiom--"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."[4] But this old, though somewhat selfish wisdom, did not satisfy him.

He went to excess, and said--"Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."[5] "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee."[6] "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that persecute you."[7] "Judge not, that ye be not judged."[8] "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."[9] "Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful."[10] "It is more blessed to give than to receive."[11] "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."[12] [Footnote 1: The _Logia_ of St.Matthew joins several of these axioms together, to form lengthened discourses.

But the fragmentary form makes itself felt notwithstanding.] [Footnote 2: The sentences of the Jewish doctors of the time are collected in the little book entitled, _Pirke Aboth_.] [Footnote 3: The comparisons will be made afterward as they present themselves.

It has been sometimes supposed that--the compilation of the Talmud being later than that of the Gospels--parts may have been borrowed by the Jewish compilers from the Christian morality.