Besides this love that comes from profit, pleasant, honest (for one good turn asks another in equity), that which proceeds from the law of nature, or from discipline and philosophy, there is yet another love compounded of all these three, which is charity, and includes piety, dilection, benevolence, friendship, even all those virtuous habits; for love is the circle equant of all other affections, of which Aristotle dilates at large in his Ethics, and is commanded by God, which no man can well perform, but he that is a Christian, and a true regenerate man; this is, [4586]"To love God above all, and our neighbour as ourself;” for this love is lychnus accendens et accensus, a communicating light, apt to illuminate itself as well as others.  All other objects are fair, and very beautiful, I confess; kindred, alliance, friendship, the love that we owe to our country, nature, wealth, pleasure, honour, and such moral respects, &c., of which read [4587]copious Aristotle in his morals; a man is beloved of a man, in that he is a man; but all these are far more eminent and great, when they shall proceed from a sanctified spirit, that hath a true touch of religion, and a reference to God.  Nature binds all creatures to love their young ones; a hen to preserve her brood will run upon a lion, a hind will fight with a bull, a sow with a bear, a silly sheep with a fox.  So the same nature urgeth a man to love his parents, ([4588]_dii me pater omnes oderint, ni te magis quam oculos amem meos!_) and this love cannot be dissolved, as Tully holds, [4589]"without detestable offence:”  but much more God’s commandment, which enjoins a filial love, and an obedience in this kind. [4590]"The love of brethren is great, and like an arch of stones, where if one be displaced, all comes down,” no love so forcible and strong, honest, to the combination of which, nature, fortune, virtue, happily concur; yet this love comes short of it. [4591]_Dulce et decorum pro patria mori_, [4592]it cannot be expressed, what a deal of charity that one name of country contains. Amor laudis et patriae pro stipendio est; the Decii did se devovere, Horatii, Curii, Scaevola, Regulus, Codrus, sacrifice themselves for their country’s peace and good.

[4593] “Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes,
        Ad bellum missos perdidit una dies.”

       “One day the Fabii stoutly warred,
        One day the Fabii were destroyed.”

Fifty thousand Englishmen lost their lives willingly near Battle Abbey, in defence of their country. [4594]P.  Aemilius l. 6. speaks of six senators of Calais, that came with halters in their hands to the king of England, to die for the rest.  This love makes so many writers take such pains, so many historiographers, physicians, &c., or at least, as they pretend, for common safety, and their country’s benefit. [4595]_Sanctum nomen amiciticae, sociorum communio sacra_; friendship is a holy name, and a sacred communion