Not only is the individual man the neighbor, but the collective man,
too. A society, smaller or larger, is the neighbor; the Church is; the
Kingdom of the Lord is; and above all the Lord Himself. These are the
neighbor, to whom good is to be done from love. These are also the
ascending degrees of the neighbor; for a society consisting of many is
the neighbor in a higher degree than is the individual; one's country
in a still higher degree; the Church in a still higher degree than
one's country; in a degree higher still the Kingdom of the Lord; and
in the highest degree the Lord Himself. These degrees of ascent are
like the steps in a ladder, at the top of which is the Lord.
--_Heavenly Doctrine, n._ 91