XXXI. Human Merit.
IT is the character of a natural man to place merit in good works, or to perform useful services to others merely for the sake of remuneration, in hope either of gain, or reputation, or some other worldly interest. Reward being thus his motive, or end in view, it is plain, that all the good which such a person does, receives it's quality from self-consideration; and that, being so tainted and polluted in it's source, it must necessarily be evil with respect to the doer, however serviceable it may be to others, or however engaging and fascinating in it's external appearance.
But the truly spiritual man, who does good purely from the love of good, or for the sake of good, is unwilling to hear of merit, or even to think of it, except while he is ascribing it wholly to the Lord, from whom alone all real good proceeds. On the contrary, he is desirous of serving his neighbour for the sake of his neighbour, of loving his friend for the sake of his friend, of benefiting his country for the sake of his country, and of doing good to all, according to their several states, and his own ability, not from any hope or expectation of reward, but from a generous, disinterested affection, inspired into his soul by him, whose love is universal, unmixed with alloy, and who can receive nothing in return for all his mercies to mankind, but their grateful acknowledgments and humble adoration.
XXXII. Baptism.
AS in every general church, which has heretofore existed in the world, some peculiarity of rite, ceremony, or custom, has been introduced, in order to
