The Practice of Piety

First, Though thou hast many acquaintance; yet make not any thy familiar friend, but he that truly ^*fears God. Such a one thou never needest to fear. For though you should in some particulars fall out: yet Christian love, the main ground of your friendship will never fall away, and the fear of God will never suffer him to do thee any villainy.

First, Though thou hast many acquaintance; yet make not any thy familiar friend, but he that truly ^*feares God. Such a one thou neuer needest to feare. For though you should in some particulers fall out: yet Christian loue, the maine ground of your friendship will neuer fall away, and the feare of God will neuer suffer him to doe thee any villainy.

1. *Vera amicitia tantummodo est inter bonos. Mali nec inter se amici sunt, nec cum bonis.

Secondly, do nothing in the sight of a civill friend, for which thou canst not be safe unless it be concealed:¹ nor any thing for which (if just cause be offered) thou needest fear him, if he proves ⟨p. 374⟩thine unjust enemy. If thou hast done any thing amiss,² ask God forgiveness, and persuade thy self rather then thy friend to keep thine own counsel. For be assured that what friendship soever is grounded upon any other cause then true Religion;³ if ever that cause fail, the friendship falleth off: And the rather; because that as GOD breeds among men, Truth, Peace, and Amity, that we should live to do one another good: so the Devil daily soweth falsehood, discord, and enmity, to cause (if he can) the deerest friends to devour one another.