Of works done out of charity
Chapter 15 works of charity
to dissensions between friends and neighbours, and between religious and devout persons.
3. An old habit is with difficulty abandoned; and no man is wiUingly led further than he himself can see.
If you rely more on your own reason or industry than on the subduing power of Jesus Christ, seldom and late will you become an enlightened man.
For God wills us to be perfectly subject to Himself, and to transcend all reasoning by the ardour of our love.
CHAPTER 15
OF WORKS DONE OUT OF CHARITY
Evil ought not to be done for anything in the world, nor for the love of any human being; but yet, for the benejfit of one that is in need, a good work is sometimes freely to be left undone, or rather to be changed for a better. For by this means a good work is not lost, but changed into a better.
Without charity, the outward work profits nothing; but whatever is done out of charity, be it never so little and contemptible, becomes whoUy fruitful. For God weighs the love with which a man works rather than how much work he does.
2. He does much who loves much; he does much who does well what he does; he does well who serves the common good rather than his own will.
Often that seems to be charity which is rather carnality; for natural inclination, self-will, hope of reward, study of our own interest — these things will seldom be absent.
3. He that has true and perfect charity seeks himself in nothing, but desires only that God be glorified in all things.
And he envies no man; for he is in love with no private joy of his own, nor desires to rejoice in himself. But his desire is to find his happiness in God, above every other good thing.
He attributes no good to any creature, but refers it all to God, from whom as from their fountain all things proceed; and in whom finally all the Saints do rest, in the joy of fruition.
O if a man had but a spark of real charity, he would surely perceive that aU earthly things are fuU of vanity!