NJHD 150, 153-154 - merit

NJHD 150, 153-154
They who do good that they may merit,
do not do good from the love of good,
but from the love of reward,
for he who wills to merit,
wills to be rewarded . . ..

Genuine charity and genuine faith is without any merit,
for good itself is the delight of charity,
and truth itself is the delight of faith . . ..

That good is not to be done for the sake of reward,
the Lord Himself teaches in Luke:

If you love those who love you, what grace have you?
for sinners do the same;
rather love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing;
then shall your reward be great,
and you shall be the sons of the Most High.
(Luke 6:32-35)

That a person cannot do good that is good from himself,
the Lord also teaches in John:

A man cannot take anything unless it be given Him from heaven.
(John 3:27)

Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches:
as the branch cannot bear fruit from itself,
unless it shall abide in the vine,
so neither can you unless you shall abide in Me:
He who abides in Me and I in him,
he bears much fruit,
for except from Me
you cannot do anything.
(John15:4-8)