THE GOOD PERSON, according to the Spiritist Gospel:

?The truly good person is the one who complies with the laws of justice, love and charity in their highest degree of purity. If they examine their conscience, concerning their own actions, they will ask themselves if they have violated those laws, if they have practiced any evil, if they have done all the good that was possible, if they have voluntarily disregarded any occasion to be useful, if anyone has any complaint to make of them and finally, if they have done to others everything that they would wish being done to themselves.

They deposit their faith in God, in His goodness, in His justice and in His wisdom. They know that without His permission nothing can happen. So they submit themselves in all things to His will.

Good people have faith in the future, reason why they put spiritual possessions before those of a temporary nature.

They know that all vicissitudes of life, all pain and all deceptions are trials or atonements and accept them without murmuring.

Possessing the sentiments of charity and love to neighbors, they do good for the sake of goodness, without waiting for payment of any kind. They repay evil with good, take up the defense of the weak against the strong, and always sacrifice their own interests in the name of justice.

They encounter satisfaction in the benefits they spread, in the services they render, in the happiness they promote, in the tears they dry and in the consolation they offer to those who are afflicted. Their first impulse is always to think of others before thinking of themselves and to look after these interests before looking after their own. On the other hand, the selfish person always calculates the benefits and losses arising from any generous action.

The good person is always good, humane, and benevolent with everyone, without distinction as to race or creed, because they see all men and women as brothers and sisters.

They respect all sincere convictions in others and never launch reprobation against those who think otherwise.

Charity guides them in every circumstance, because they know that those who prejudice others with evil words, who injure others with their pride by disregarding their susceptibilities, or who knowing they could avoid it, do not draw back at the thought of causing suffering or yet a contrariety, however small, lack the obligation to love one's neighbor and, so, do not deserve the clemency of the Lord.

They do not harbor rancor, hate nor yet desire vengeance. Following the example of Jesus, they forgive and forget all offences, only remembering the benefits received, because they know that they will be forgiven in as much as they forgave others.

They are indulgent with the weaknesses of others because they know that they also need indulgence, remembering that Christ said: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

The good person does not take pleasure in looking for defects in others, nor in calling attention to them. If necessity obliges them to do so, they always try to look for the good qualities, so as to lessen the bad ones.

Good people study their own imperfections and work unceasingly to combat them, using all their strength, so that tomorrow they will be able to say that they are a little better than they were the day before.

The good person never emphasizes his importance or talents at the expense of others. But on the contrary, they take every opportunity to highlight in others whatever these people may have that is useful.

They are not conceited about their riches, nor of any personal advantage, knowing that everything that has been given to them may be taken away.

They use, but do not abuse, the possessions which have been conceded to them, because the goods are only a deposit, for which they will be required to give full account. They know that the most detrimental employment that these riches can be put to is the satisfaction of their own passions.

If then, by social order, a good person has been placed in a position of command over their fellow creatures, they treat them with kindness and benevolence, because before God all men are equal. They use their authority to raise up the morale of these people and never to crush them with their pride. They avoid everything which might cause a subordinate position to be painful.

The subordinate, by his turn, understands the duties of his position and endeavor himself in fulfilling them consciously. (See chapter 17, item 9.)

Finally, a good person is always one who respects the rights of their fellow beings, as assured by the laws of nature, in the same way that they would wish their own to be respected.

These are not all the qualities which distinguish a good person, but anyone who tries hard to possess those which have been mentioned will find themselves on the road which leads to all the rest.?

Extracted from the book ?The Gospel According to the Spiritirm? , Chapter XVII.