Again, our redemption, by Jesus Christ, calleth us to the exercise of this love, who came from heaven, and laid down his life, out of love, to the whole sinful world.
Lastly, Our Lord and Saviour has required us to love one another, as he loved us.
These are the great, perpetual reasons, on which our obligation to love all mankind as ourselves is founded.
These reasons never vary; they always continue in their full force; and therefore equally oblige at all times, and in regard to all persons.
God loves us, not because we are wise, and good, and holy, but in pity to us, because we want this happiness. He loves us, in order to make us good. Our love therefore must take this course; not looking for, or requiring the merit of our brethren, but pitying their disorders, and wishing them all the good that they want, and are capable of receiving.
18. You will perhaps ask, if you are not to have a particular esteem for good men? Yes; but this esteem is very different from that love of benevolence which we owe to our neighbour.
The distinction betwixt love of benevolence, and esteem, is plain and obvious.
No man is to have a high esteem for his own accomplishments or behaviour; yet every man is to love himself, that is, to wish well to himself; therefore this distinction betwixt love and esteem, is not only plain, but very necessary to be observed.
Again, if you think it hardly possible to dislike the actions of unreasonable men, and yet have a true love for them, consider this with relation to yourself.
It is very possible, for you not only to dislike, but to detest and abhor a great many of your own past actions. But do you then lose any of those tender sentiments towards yourself, which you used to have? Do you then cease to wish well to yourself? Is not the love of yourself as strong then as at any other time?