Love of neighbor
And the second commandment is like this. The second great branch of Christian righteousness is closely and inseparably connected with it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. You shall love. You shall embrace him with the most tender goodwill, the most earnest and cordial affection, the most inflamed desires of preventing or removing all evil, and of procuring for him every possible good.
Your neighbor. That is, not only your friend, your kinsman, or your acquaintance. Not only the virtuous, the friendly, the one who loves you, who prevents or returns your kindness. But every child of man, every human creature, every soul which God has made. Not excepting the one whom you have never seen in the flesh, whom you do not know either by face or by name. Not excepting the one whom you know to be evil and unthankful, the one who still despitefully uses and persecutes you. Him you shall love as yourself, with the same unchanging thirst after his happiness in every kind, the same unwearied care to screen him from whatever might grieve or hurt either his soul or his body.
Now is not this love the fulfilling of the law? The sum of all Christian righteousness? Of all inward righteousness, for it necessarily implies bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, seeing love is not puffed up, gentleness, meekness, long-suffering, for love is not provoked, but believes, hopes, and endures all things. And of all outward righteousness, for love works no evil to his neighbor, either by word or by deed. It cannot willingly either hurt or grieve anyone. And it is zealous of good works. Every lover of mankind, as he has opportunity, does good to all men, being, without partiality and without hypocrisy, full of mercy and good fruits.
1771 text
8. And the second commandment is like unto this; the second great branch of Christian righteousness is closely and inseparably connected therewith, even Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Thou shalt love――Thou shalt embrace with the most tender good-will, the most earnest and cordial affection, the most inflamed desires of preventing or removing all evil, and of procuring for him every possible good. Thy neighbour――that is, not only thy friend, thy kinsman, or thy acquaintance; not only the virtuous, the friendly, him that loves thee, that prevents or returns thy kindness; but every child of man, every human creature, every soul which God hath made: not excepting him whom thou never hast seen in the flesh, whom thou knowest not either by face or name: not excepting him whom thou knowest to be evil and unthankful, him that still despightfully uses and persecutes thee. Him thou shalt love as thyself; with the same invariable thirst after his happiness in every kind: the same unwearied care to skreen him from whatever might grieve or hurt either his soul or body.
9. Now is not this love the fulfilling of the law? The sum of all Christian righteousness? Of all inward righteousness; for it necessarily implies bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind (seeing love is not puffed up) gentleness, meekness, long-suffering, (for love is not provoked but believeth, hopeth, endureth all things) and of all outward righteousness; for love worketh no evil to his neighbour, either by word or deed. It cannot willingly either hurt or grieve any one. And it is zealous of good works. Every lover of mankind, as he hath opportunity, doth good unto all men; being (without partiality and without hypocrisy) full of mercy and good fruits.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 7 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15.
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