A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The object of this love plainly expressed, is our neighbours, whereby we are not with the Pharisees to understand our friends only, nor, according ¹to the vulgar use of the word, those that dwell near unto us alone, but all men, without exception, who are of the same nature with us, consisting of a reasonable soul and body, whether they be strangers or acquaintance, friends or enemies unto us. For all men are of the same flesh, ²and created according to the same Image of God, and also our brethren, as they have all alike descended from the same first parents. And this is implied in the Law, where that Commandment, which is given for the helping of our enemies Ox or Ass, being repeated in another place, is ³rendered thy brothers Ox or Ass. And the Prophet Isaiah maketh it a work of mercy to cover the naked, without any exception of stranger or enemy, because he is of our own flesh. But our Saviour plainly presseth this duty both by precept; But I say unto you, love your enemies, ⁴bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you; propounding the example of God himself for our imitation, that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven, for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. And also by his Parable of the man which fell among thieves, who being a Jew,