Tertullian An Answer to the Jews demonstrates? For the wont of the old law was to avenge itself by the vengeance of the glaive, and to pluck out "eye for eye," and to inflict retaliatory revenge for injury.[53] Tertullian On Exhortation to Chastity So, too, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth,"[31] Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book VI not as if just revenge were an unrighteous thing, but because long-suffering is more excellent. Nor did He make laws to root out our natural passions, but only to forbid the excess of them.[143]