Charity (Whitehead) n. 1

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1. I. THE FIRST OF CHARITY IS TO LOOK TO THE LORD, AND SHUN EVILS BECAUSE THEY ARE SINS; WHICH IS DONE BY REPENTANCE. To be set forth in this order:

(I) As far as anyone does not shun evils because they are sins, so far he remains in them. (II) As far as anyone does not take cognizance of sins and know what they are, so far he does not see but that he is without sins. (III.) As far as anyone takes cognizance of sins and knows what they are, so far he can see them in himself, confess them before the Lord, and repent of them. (IV.) Good before repentance is spurious good; it is the same with Charity, for good is of Charity. (V.) Consequently, the first of Charity is to look to the Lord and shun evils because they are sins.


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