Love to enemies is considered to be another praiseworthy precept, which Christ has erroneously the credit of being the author of. We have heard the declaration made in the Christian pulpit, that Jesus Christ was the first moral teacher who inculcated love to enemies; a most transcendent error, as the following historical citations will show. Most of the religious books and religious teachers of the ancient oriental heathen breathe forth a spirit of love and kindness toward enemies. The following is from the old Persian bible, the Sadder:-- 1. "Forgive thy foes, nor that alone; Their evil deeds with good repay; Fill those with joy who leave thee none, And kiss the hand upraised to slay." The Christian bible would be searched in vain to find a moral sentiment or precept superior to this. Certainly it is the loftiest sentiment of kindness toward enemies that ever issued from human lips, or was ever penned by mortal man. And yet it is found in an old heathen bible. Think of "kissing the hand upraised to slay." Never was love, and kindness, and forbearance toward enemies more sublimely expressed than in the old Persian ballad. 2. "Treat thine enemy as though a friend, and he will become thy friend," was expressed by Publius Syrus, a Roman slave, which is a wiser admonition than that of Christ, "Love thine enemy," as it is a moral impossibility. 3. "All nature cries aloud, 'Shall man do less than heal the smiter, and the railer bless?'" (Hafiz, a Mahomedan.) 4. "Bridle thine anger, and forgive thine enemy; give unto him who takes from thee." (Koran, Mahomedan bible. ) 5. "Let no man be offended with those who are angry at him, but reply gently to those who curse him." (Code of Menu.) 6. "Let him endure injuries, and despise no one." (Ibid.) 7. "Commit no hostile action for your own preservation." (Ibid.) 8. "To be revenged on enemies, become more virtuous." (Diogenes.) 9. "To strike a man, or vex him with words, is a sin." (Zend-Avesta, Persian bible.) 10. "Even the intention to strike is a sin." (Ibid.) 11. "Desire not the death of thine enemy." (Confucius.) 12. "Acknowledge benefits, but never revenge injuries." (Ibid.) 13. "We may dislike an enemy without desiring revenge." (Ibid.) 14. "Pardon the offenses of others, but never your own." (Publius Syrus.) 15. "The noble spirit cures injustice by forgiving it." (Ibid.) 16. "It is much better to be injured than to kill a man." (Pythagoras.) 17. "You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force." (Publius Syrus.) 18. "Better overlook an injury than avenge it." (Publius Syrus.) 19. "It is enough to think ill of an enemy without avenging it." (Publius Syrus.) 20. "It is a kingly spirit to return good deeds for evil ones." (Ibid.) 21. "Learn for yon orient shell to love thy foe, And store with pearls the hand that brings thee woe; Flee, like yon rock, from base, vindictive pride, Emblaze with gems the wrist that rends thy side."