THE "SECOND" OF CHARITY IS TO DO GOOD TO THE NEIGHBOUR.

Isaiah, chapter i.; also concerning the cup and dish that are to be cleansed inside first.*

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. * Matt. xxiii. 26; Luke xi. 39