Not to do evil to the neighbor is the first thing of charity, and to
do good to him fills the second place.... That a man cannot do good
which in itself is good before evil has been removed, the Lord teaches
in many places: "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit"--_Matt._ XVI, 18.
So in Isaiah: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your
doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well" (I,
16,17).
--_True Christian Religion, n._ 445