The highest notion therefore that we can form of man is, when we conceive him as like God in this respect as he can be; using all his finite faculties, whether of wisdom, power, or prayers, for the common good of all his fellow-creatures: heartily desiring they may have all the happiness they are capable of, and as many assistances from him, as his condition in the world will permit him to give them. And, on the other hand, what a _baseness_ and _iniquity_ is there in all instances of _hatred_, _envy_, _spite_ and _ill will_; if we consider, that every instance of them, is so far acting in _opposition_ to God, and intending _mischief_ and _harm_ to those creatures, which God _favours_, and _protects_, and _preserves_, in order to their happiness? An _ill-natured_ man amongst God’s creatures, is the most _perverse_ creature in the world, acting contrary to that _love_, by which himself _subsists_, and which alone gives subsistence to all that variety of beings, that enjoy life in any part of the creation. 8. _Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them._ Now, though this is a doctrine of _strict justice_, yet it is only an _universal love_ that can comply with it. As we have no degrees of spite or ill-will to ourselves, so we cannot be disposed towards others as we are towards ourselves, till we _universally_ renounce all instances of spite and ill-will, even in the _smallest_ degrees. If we had any imperfection in our _eyes_, that made us see _any one_ thing wrong, for the same reason they would shew us an hundred things wrong. So if we have any temper of our hearts, that makes us spiteful, or ill-natured towards _any one_ man, the same temper will make us envious, and spiteful, and ill-natured towards a great many more. If therefore we desire this love, we must exercise our hearts in the love of _all_, because it is not _Christian_ love, till it is the love of _all_. If a man could keep this whole law of love, and yet offend in _one point_, he would be guilty of all. For as one allowed instance of injustice destroys the justice of all our other actions; so one allowed instance of envy, spite, or ill-will, renders all our other acts of affection nothing worth. Acts of love, that proceed not from a principle of _universal love_, are but like acts of justice, that proceed from a heart not disposed to _universal justice_. 9. Now, the noblest motive to universal tenderness is this, _God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God_. Who therefore, whose heart has any tendency towards God, would not aspire after this divine temper. How should we rejoice in the exercise of this love, which, is an assurance to us, that we act according to his Spirit, who is love itself? God willeth the happiness of all beings, though it is no happiness to himself; therefore we must desire the happiness of all beings, tho’ no happiness cometh to us from it.