Charity #209
209. II. THE "SECOND" OF CHARITY IS TO DO GOOD TO THE NEIGHBOUR.
Isaiah 1; also concerning the cup and dish that are to be cleansed inside first. 1
If this cleansing is not done, they still appear good outwardly. This is Pharisaic or hypocritical good, or something natural in which there is nothing spiritual, thus it is spurious good; and if done for the sake of salvation, it is good done for reward.
But these things are to be illustrated in this order:
1. Not wishing to do evil to the neighbour, is loving him.
2. Wishing to do good to the neighbour, is loving him.
3. In so far as a man does not wish to do evil to the neighbour, he wishes to do him good from charity; but not the reverse.
4. From this it follows, that the "first" of charity is to look to the Lord and shun evils as sins; and that the "second" of charity is to do good to the neighbour.
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