The love of our neighbor
The second thing implied in being altogether a Christian is the love of our neighbor. For our Lord said, in the words that follow, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. If any man asks, Who is my neighbor? we reply, every man in the world, every child of him who is the Father of the spirits of all flesh. Nor may we in any way make an exception of our enemies, or of the enemies of God and of their own souls. Every Christian loves these also as himself, yes, as Christ loved us.
He who would understand more fully what manner of love this is may consider Saint Paul's description of it. It is long-suffering and kind. It does not envy. It is not rash or hasty in judging. It is not puffed up. It makes the one who loves the least of all, the servant of all.
Love does not behave itself in an unseemly way, but becomes all things to all men. Love does not seek her own, but only the good of others, so that they may be saved. Love is not provoked, for it casts out wrath, and the one who has wrath is wanting in love. It thinks no evil. It does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. It covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
1771 text
II.) 2. The second thing implied in the being altogether a Christian is, the love of our neighbour. For thus said our Lord in the following words, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If any man ask who is my neighbour, we reply, every man in the world; every child of his, who is the father of the spirits of all flesh. Nor may we in any wise except our enemies, or the enemies of God and their own souls. But every Christian loveth these also as himself, yea, as Christ loved us. He that would more fully understand what manner of love this is, may consider St. Paul’s description of it. It is long-suffering and kind: it envieth not: it is not rash or hasty in judging: it is not puffed up, but maketh him that loves, the least, the servant of all. Love doth not behave itself unseemly, but becometh all things to all men. She seeketh not her own, but only the good of others, that they may be saved. Love is not provoked. It casteth out wrath, which he who hath, is wanting in love. It thinketh no evil. It rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. It covereth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.