DOCTRINE.
That the Souls of Men are strongly inclined, and tender∣ly affected towards the Bodies, in which they now dwell.
THE Souls Love to the Body is so strong, natural, and inseparable, that it is made the Rule and Measure by which we dispence and proportion our Love to others, Matth. 19.19. Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self. And the Apostle, Gal. 5.14. tells us, that the whole Law, (i.e.) the Second Table of the Law, is fulfilled, or sum'd up, in this Precept, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy Self. The meaning is not, that all and every one who is our Neighbour, must be equally near to us, as our own Bo∣dies; but it intends, (1.) The Sincerity of our Love to others, which must be without Di••••••mulation, for we dis∣semble not in Self-love. (2.) That we be as careful to avoid injuring others, as we would our selves, Matth. 7.12. To do by others, or measure to them, as we would have done, or measured unto us; for which Rule, Severus the Heathen Emperour honoured Christ and Christianity, and caused it to be written in Capital Letters of Gold. (3.) That we take direction from this Principle of Self-Love, to measure out our Care, Love and Respects to others, according to the different degrees of nearness in which we stand to them. As, (1.) The Wife of our Bo∣some, to whom by this Rule, is due our first Care and Love, as in the Text. (2.) Our Children and Family, 1 Tim. 5.8. (3.) To all in general, whether we have any Bond of Natural Relation upon them or no: but especially those to whom we are Spiritually related, as Gal. 6.10.