The Christians converse with God, or, The insufficiency and uncertainty of human friendship and…

2. And some that are sincere, and whose hearts are with you, may yet be drawn by temptation to disown you: When malice is slandering you, timorous friendship may perhaps be silent▪ and afrai• to justify you or take your part. When a Peter in such imbecility and fear can disown and deny his suffering ⟨p. 17⟩Lord, what wonder if faint hearted friends disown you, or me, that may give them too much occasion or pretence? Why may not you and I be put to say as David did, Psal. 38.11, 12. [My lovers and my Friends stand aloof from my sore, and my Kinsmen stand afar off: They that seek after my Life lay Snares for me: And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.] They that in fearfulness will •ail their Maker and Redeemer, and hazard their Salvation, may by a smaller temptation be drawn to fail such friends as we.

2. And some that are sincere, and whose hearts are with you, may yet be drawn by temptation to disown you: When malice is slandering you, timerous friendship may perhaps be silent▪ and afrai• to just•fie you or take your part. When a Peter in such imbecility and fear can disown and deny his suffering ⟨p. 17⟩Lord, what wonder if faint hearted friends disown you, or me, that may give them too much occasion or pretence? Why may not you and I be put to say as David did, Psal. 38.11, 12. [My lovers and my Friends stand aloof from my sore, and my Kinsmen stand afar off: They that seek after my Life lay Snares for me: And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.] They that in fearfulness will •ail their Maker and Redeemer, and hazard their Salvation, may by a smaller temptation be drawn to fail such friends as we.