The standard whereby, in all the relations and circumstances of life, we may determine what Heaven demands and expects of us.2.

The just application of this standard, is practicable for, and obligatory upon, every child of Adam.3.The qualification requisite to a just application of this rule to all the cases in which we can be concerned, is simply this--_to regard all the members of the human family as our brethren, our equals_.
In other words, the Savior here teaches us, that in the principles and laws of reason, we have an infallible guide in all the relations and circumstances of life; that nothing can hinder our following this guide, but the bias of _selfishness_; and that the moment, in deciding any moral question, we place _ourselves in the room of our brother_, before the bar of reason, we shall see what decision ought to be pronounced.
Does this, in the Savior, look like fleeing self-evident truths!--like decrying the authority of general principles!--like exalting himself at the expense of reason!--like opening a refuge in the Gospel for those whose practice is at variance with the dictates of humanity! What then is the just application of the Golden Rule--that fundamental maxim of the Gospel, giving character to, and shedding light upon, all its precepts and arrangements--to the subject of slavery ?--_that we must "do to" slaves as we would be done by_, AS SLAVES, _the_ RELATION _itself being justified and continued_?
Surely not.

A little reflection will enable us to see, that the Golden Rule reaches farther in its demands, and strikes deeper in its influences and operations.

The _natural equality_ of mankind lies at the very basis of this great precept.

It obviously requires _every man to acknowledge another self in every other man_.