Heavenly Doctrine (Tafel) n. 97

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97. It is a common saying that every one is a neighbour to himself: by which is meant, that every one ought first to take care of himself. The doctrine of charity, however, teaches how this is to be understood. Every one ought to take care of himself so that he may have the necessaries of life, namely, food, raiment, a place of habitation, and several other things which are required of necessity by the civil life in which he is. These he ought to provide, not only for himself, but for those also belonging to him; and indeed not for the present time only, but also for the future. For unless a man provides for himself the necessaries of life, he cannot be in a condition to practise charity, being himself in want of everything.


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