the geneva catechism 4
them to evil. That is right.
217. Can we now give a short summary of the whole law? We can, reducing it to two articles---the first of which is that we are to love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength; the second that we love our neighbours as ourselves.
218. What is meant by the love of God? To love Him as God is to have and hold Him as Lord, Saviour and Father, and this requires reverence, honour, faith, and obedience along with love.
219. What does "with all our heart" signify, and "with all our soul, and with all our strength? Such a zeal and such a vehemence, that there is in us no desire, no will, no intention and no thought, contrary to this love.
220. What is the meaning of the second article? As we are by nature prone to love ourselves, that this affection overcomes all others, so love to our neighbour should be so predominant in our hearts, as to direct and govern us, and be the rule of all our thoughts and actions.
221. What do you understand by "our neighbours"? Not only our parents and friends, or those acquainted with us, but also those who are unknown to us, and even our enemies.
222. But what connection do they have with us? That which God has placed among all men on earth, and is so inviolable, that it cannot be abolished by the malice of any man.
223. You say, then, that if any man hate us, the blame is his own, and yet according to the order of God, he does not cease to be our neighbour, and we are to regard him as such? It is so.
224. Seeing that the law of God comprises the form of worshiping Him aright, should not the Christian man live according to its command?