Doc. of Life (Dick) n. 108

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108. XIV

IF ANY ONE SHUNS EVILS FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN BECAUSE THEY ARE SINS, HE DOES NOT SHUN THEM, BUT ONLY PREVENTS THEM FROM APPEARING BEFORE THE WORLD

There are moral men who keep the commandments of the Second table of the Decalogue, who do not defraud, who do not blaspheme who do not revenge, who do not commit adultery; and such of them as confirm in themselves that these things are evil, because they are hurtful to the state and so are contrary to the laws of humanity, also practise charity, sincerity, justice and chastity. However, if they do these good works and shun those evils only because they are evils and not at the same time because they are sins, they are still merely natural men; and with those who are merely natural, the root of evil remains implanted, and is not removed. Therefore, the good works which they do are not good, because they are of themselves.


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