AC 6818 - degrees of charity

AC 6818
But not only is a man in the singular the neighbor,
but also the man in the plural.
For a society, smaller or greater, is the neighbor;
our country is the neighbor;
the church is the neighbor;
the Lord's kingdom is the neighbor;
and so above all is the Lord.
All these are the neighbor who is to be benefitted from charity.

These are also ascending degrees of the neighbor;
for a society of many is the neighbor
in a higher degree than is an individual man;
our country in a higher degree than a society;
in a still higher degree the church;
and in a still higher degree, the Lord's kingdom;
but in the highest degree, the Lord is the neighbor.
These ascending degrees are like the steps of a ladder,
at the top of which is the Lord.