AE 979 - What are good works?

AE 979 [2]

. . . good works . . . are all works done by man
when evils have been removed as sins.
For the works done after this
are done from man only as if from him;
for they are done from the Lord,
and all works done from the Lord are good,
and are called
the goods of life, the goods of charity, and good works;
as for instance,
all the judgments of a judge who has justice as his end,
and who venerates and loves it as Divine,
and who detests as infamous
decisions made for the sake of rewards or friendship,
or from favor.
Thus he consults the good of his country
by causing justice and judgment to reign there as in heaven;
and thus he consults the peace of every innocent citizen
and protects him from the violence of evildoers.
All these are good works.
So all services of managers and dealings of merchants
are good works when they shun unlawful gains
as sins against the Divine laws.
When a man shuns evils as sins
he daily learns what a good work is,
and the affection of doing good grows with him,
and the affection of knowing truths for the sake of good;
for so far as he knows truths
he can perform works more fully and more wisely,
and thus his works become more truly good.
Cease, therefore, from asking in thyself,
"What are the good works that I must do,
or what good must I do to receive eternal life?"
Only cease from evils as sins and look to the Lord,
and the Lord will teach and lead you.