437. The current belief is that charity is no more than doing good, and that then a person does no evil; consequently it is the first thing in charity to do good and the second not to do evil. But the exact opposite is the case. The first thing in charity is to banish evil, and the second is to do good. For it is a universal law in the spiritual world, and so also in the natural world, that so far as a person does not will evil, he wills good. So in as far as he turns away from hell, from where all evil comes up, so far does he turn towards heaven, from where all good comes down. And in the same way, to the extent that anyone rejects the devil, so far does the Lord accept him. No one can stand between the two twisting his neck around so as to pray simultaneously to both; it is people like this of whom the Lord says:
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. But because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I shall spit you out of my mouth. Rev. 3:15, 16.
Can anyone skirmish with his squadron between two armies and be on both sides at once? Can anyone cherish evil against his neighbour and at the same time good towards him? If he does, the evil conceals itself in the good. Although evil which conceals itself may not be seen in actions, still it shows itself in many things when they are properly considered. The Lord says:
No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and Mammon. Luke 16:13.
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