Still Do Good Works?

Selfishness is so deeply rooted in man's heart that at the moment it becomes plain that there is no merit of ours in doing good works we stand aghast and say: why must we still do good works? The Heidelberger proposes this question, not because he himself is not plain on the issue, but he is engaged in showing us that we are by nature a very selfish lot. If our good works could merit us something, if they could gain us something, then we would gladly do them, yes we would be eager to do them....