Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons /

4. In the choice of these few Friends we must use Caution 1. Such as are near to us, with whom we have frequent and familiar Converse, and perform a mutual interchange of all Offices of Love, Prov. 18. 24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend which sticketh closer then a brother. Consanguinity and Affinity is not so near a tie as this Friendship. 2. Not only near, but those who are holy, prudent and good, Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with the wise shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 3. Such as are most likely to be Faithful, Job 6. 15, 16. My brethren have dealt deceitfully with me as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass ⟨p. 21⟩away. Pools in Winter when less need of Water, but dried up in Summer when Water in those parched Countries was a great Commodity. So many seem to be great Friends, heighten our expectation; but in our Necessities and Straits leave us destitute, ye see me cast down and are afraid, saith Job, as if I should be a burden to you. Dearest Friends may disappoint us, their Affection wants an inward Principle; it is a Winter Brook, and not a Spring; therefore since the Heart of man is so deceitful, and not only deceitful, but though sincere for the present, very changeable, and this is so important an Interest of Humane Life, and the Vexation of a disappointment in a Bosom Friend is so grievous, and involveth us in many inconveniences, Natural and Spiritual; for Solomon telleth us Prov. 25. 19. Confidence in an unfaithful Friend in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. When we think to eat with the broken Tooth, or to walk with the foot out of joint we are put to grievous pain and torment; therefore we should go to God, and pray him to direct us in the choice of intimate Friends. David sadly regrets a disappointment in a Friend, Psal. 55. 12, 13, 14, 15. For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have born it, nor was it he ⟨p. 22⟩