which we seem to act rightly with our fellowmen, we do not act with that heart wherewith
the Lord enjoins us; i.e., it is not because we love them, but because we wish to obtain some
advantage from them for the necessity of the present life. But we ought to do them good for
their eternal salvation, not for our own temporal advantage. May God, therefore, incline
our heart to His testimonies, and not to covetousness.358 For “the end of the commandment
is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”359 But he
who looks after his brother from a regard to his own necessities in this life, does not certainly
do so from love, because he does not look after him whom he ought to love as himself, but
after himself; or rather not even after himself, seeing that in this way he makes his own heart
double, by which he is hindered from seeing God, in the vision of whom alone there is certain
and lasting blessedness.
358 Ps. cxix. 36.
359 1 Tim. i. 5.
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Chapter XII