The divine life in three treatises

3, Moreover, a hundred things may occasion fallings out, even amongst unfeigned friends: Passions may cause inconvenient actions or expressions, and these may cause passions in their friends; and these may grow so high till friends do seem to one another to be like enemies: Paul and Barnabas may grow so hot, as to fall out to a parture. How easily can Satan set fire on the tinder which he findeth in the best and gentlest natures, if God permit him? No friends so near and dear, that passionate weaknesses may not either alienate or make a grief to one another, How apt are we to take unkindnesses at one another, and to be suspicious of our friends, or offended with them? And how apt to give occasion of such offence? How apt are we to censure one another, and to misinterpret the words and actions of our friends? And how apt to give occasion of such mistakes and cutting censures? And the more kindness we have found in, or expected from our friends, the more their real or supposed injuries will affect us. We are apt to say, [Had it been a stranger, I could have born it: But to be used thus by my bosom or familiar friend, goes near my heart.] And indeed the unkindnesses of friends is no small affliction; the suffering going usually as near the heart, as the person that caused it was near it: especially when our own weakness causeth us to forget the frailty and infirmities of man, and with what allowances and expectations we must choose and use our friends; and when we forget the Love that remaineth in the midst of passions.

3, Moreover, a hundred things may occasion fallings out, even amongst unfeigned friends: Passions may cause inconvenient actions or expressions, and these may cause passions in their friends; and these may grow so high till friends do seem to one another to be like enemies: Paul and Barnabas may grow so hot, as to fall out to a parture. How easily can Satan set fire on the tinder which he findeth in the best and gentlest natures, if God permit him? No friends so near and dear, that passionate weaknesses may not either alienate or make a grief to one another, How apt are we to take unkindnesses at one another, and to be suspicious of our friends, or offended with them? And how apt to give occasion of such offence? How apt are we to censure one another, and to misinterpret the words and actions of our friends? And how apt to give occasion of such mistakes and cutting censures? And the more kindness we have found in, or expected from our friends, the more their real or supposed injuries will affect us. We are apt to say, [Had it been a stranger, I could have born it: But to be used thus by my bosome or familiar friend, goes near my heart.] And indeed the unkindnesses of friends is no small affliction; the suffering going usually as near the heart, as the person that caused it was near it: especially when our own weakness causeth us to forget the frailty and infirmities of man, and with what allowances and expectations we must choose and use our friends; and when we forget the Love that remaineth in the midst of passions.