This precept, in its first delivery by our Saviour, is thus
introduced:- Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,
with all thy soul, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as
thyself. These very different manners of expression do not lead our
thoughts to the same measure or degree of love, common to both
objects, but to one peculiar to each. Supposing, then, which is to
be supposed, a distinct meaning and propriety in the words, AS
THYSELF; the precept we are considering will admit of any of these
senses: that we bear the SAME KIND of affection to our neighbour as
we do to ourselves, or, that the love we bear to our neighbour
should have SOME CERTAIN PROPORTION OR OTHER to self-love: or,
lastly, that it should bear the particular proportion of EQUALITY,
that IT BE IN THE SAME DEGREE.

First, The precept may be understood as requiring only that we have
the SAME KIND of affection to our fellow-creatures as to ourselves;
that, as every man has the principle of self-love, which disposes
him to avoid misery, and consult his own happiness, so we should
cultivate the affection of goodwill to our neighbour, and that it
should influence us to have the same kind of regard to him. This at
least must be commanded, and this will not only prevent our being
injurious to him, but will also put us upon promoting his good.
There are blessings in life, which we share in common with others,
peace, plenty, freedom, healthful seasons. But real benevolence to
our fellow-creatures would give us the notion of a common interest
in a stricter sense, for in the degree we love another, his
interest, his joys and sorrows, are our own. It is from self-love
that we form the notion of private good, and consider it is our own:
love of our neighbour would teach us thus to appropriate to
ourselves his good and welfare; to consider ourselves as having a