The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

In speaking to this Rule, I shall give you.

1. The Explication of it.

2. The Grounds of it.

1. For Explication, the meaning of it is this; Put thy self into the Case and circumstances of every man, with whom thou hast to do, that is, suppose thou wert he and as he is, and he were thy self and as thou art; that then which thou woldest desire he should do to thee, that do thou to him; and that which thou wouldest be unwilling he should do to thee, do not thou do to him. Now this is an exact rule, for we are very curious in determining our own privileges, and what duty others owe to us; just so much as we take to our selves, we must allow to others; what we expect from others when we are in such circumstances, we must do the same to them in the like. And this is a plain and easy rule, many men cannot tell, what is Law or Justice, or right in such a Case, many cannot deduce the Laws of nature one from another, but there is no man, but can tell what it is that he would have another man do to him; every man can take his own actions, and put them into the other scale, and suppose, if this that I do now to another, were to be done to me, should I like it, should I be pleased, and contented with it; And thus by changing the scales, his own self-love, and self-interest, and other passions, will add nothing to the weight, for that self-interest which makes a man covetous, and inclines him to wrong another man for his own advantage, makes him likewise (when the scales are changed) unwilling that another man should wrong him; that self-conceit which makes a man proud, and apt to scorn, and despise others,