The divine life in three treatises

Selfishness is the great enemy of all societies, of all fidelity and friendship: There is no trusting that person in whom it is predominant. And the remnants of it where it doth not reign, do make men walk unevenly and unsteadfastly towards God and men. They will certainly deny both God and their friends, in a time of trial who are not able to deny themselves: Or rather he never was a real friend to any, that is predominantly selfish. They have alway some interest of their own, which their friend must needs contradict, or is insufficient to satisfy. Their houses, their lands, their monies, their children, their honour or something which they call their Own, will be frequently the matter of contention; and are so near them, that they can for the sake of these cast off the nearest friend. Contract no special friendship with a selfish man: nor put no confidence in him, whatever friendship he may profess. He is so confined to himself, that he hath no true love to spare for others: If he seem to love a friend, it is not as a friend, but as a servant, or at best as a benefactor: He loveth you for himself, as he loveth his money, or horse, or house, because you may be serviceable to him: Or as a horse or dog doth love his keeper, for feeding him: And therefore when your provender is gone, his love is gone: when you have done feeding him, he hath done loving you. When you have no more for him, he hath no more for you.

Selfishness is the great enemy of all societies, of all fidelity and friendship: There is no trusting that person in whom it is predominant. And the remnants of it where it doth not reign, do make men walk unevenly and unsteadfastly towards God and men. They will certainly deny both God and their friends, in a time of tryal who are not able to deny themselves: Or rather he never was a real friend to any, that is predominantly selfish. They have alway some interest of their own, which their friend must needs contradict, or is insufficient to satisfie. Their houses, their lands, their monies, their children, their honour or something which they call their Own, will be frequently the matter of contention; and are so near them, that they can for the sake of these cast off the nearest friend. Contract no special friendship with a selfish man: nor put no confidence in him, whatever friendship he may profess. He is so confined to himself, that he hath no true love to spare for others: If he seem to love a friend, it is not as a friend, but as a servant, or at best as a benefactour: He loveth you for himself, as he loveth his money, or horse, or house, because you may be serviceable to him: Or as a horse or dog doth love his keeper, for feeding him: And therefore when your provender is gone, his love is gone: when you have done feeding him, he hath done loving you. When you have no more for him, he hath no more for you.