The judicious -Richard- Hooker regards this natural equality of men as so obvious and unquestionable that he bases on it men's ‘obligation to love one another, on which he builds their ‘duties towards each other, from which -in turn- he derives the great 'maxims of justice and charity.
Here are his words:
A similar natural inducement has led men to realize that they have as much duty to love others as to love themselves. Things that are equal must be measured by a single standard; so if I inevitably want to receive some good— indeed as much good from every man as any man can want for himse1f—how could I expect to have any part of my desire satisfied if I am not careful to satisfy the similar desires that other men. being all of the same nature. are bound to have? To offer them anything inconsistent with their desire will be to grieve them as much as vit would grieve me: so that ifl do harm I must expect to suffer. because there is no reason why others should show more love to me than I have shown to them. Thus. my desire to be loved as much as possible by my natural equals gives me a natural duty to act towards them with the same love. Everyone knows the rules and canons natural reason has laid down for the guidance of our lives on the basis of this relation of equality between ourselves and those who are like us.