The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Thirdly,³ Consider that there can be no true friendship betwixt a Godly and a Wicked person; therefore it concerneth thee to be the more wary in thy choice. He that in factions hath an eye to power, ⟨p. 108⟩in friendship will have an eye to virtue. Friendship, according to the Philosopher, is own soul in two bodies, but how can they ever be of one soul, that are as different as Air and Earth; and as contrary as Fire and Water? All true love is, motus animi ad fruendum Deo propter ipsum; se & proximo propter Deum; A motion of the sa•••, towards the enjoyment of God for himself, himself and his neighbours for Gods sake;² so that he can never truly love man, who doth not love his Maker. God is the only foundation upon which we can build friendship, therefore such as live without him, cannot love us in him. That building which is loose without this foundation, can never stand long. A wicked man may call that profession he maketh to to his Brother, by the name of love; but Heathens can tell us that virtue alone is the hand which can twist the cords of love; that other combinations are but a confederacy, and all other conjunctions in Hypocrisy. Tis impossible that vitiated nature should move any other way then the principle of self carrieth it, which is directly opposite to true friendship;³ Unfeigned love, saith Aristotle, is a benevolent affection, willing good to another for his own sake. How then canst thou expect the comfort of a friend from him who steereth wholly by the compass of self? He saith he loves thee;⁴ I am sure his lust hath more of his heart then thou hast; either then thou must love the Dog, his brutish lust, or he will tell thee shortly thou dost not love ⟨p. 105⟩the Master. If ever thou happenest to touch on his sore place, to tell him of his fault (which thou art bound to do, if thou wilt be faithful to God, to him, and to thy own soul) he will soon kick up thy friendship, and publish to the World, that thou art an uncivil, saucy, and unintolerable person; Such are like unwholesome meat, which can neither be detained in the stomach without danger of diseases nor cast up without pain.