The works of George Swinnock, M.A

By patching up a friendship with a carnal man, thou bringest thy self to this miserable plunge, either thou must turn Caterer for his flesh, purvey for his sensual appetite, and provide the air of flattery (a more hellish wind then any the Laplanders sell) to feed the Chameleon of his pride, or else snap the bones and ligaments of friendship in sunder, which will not be done without some pain and regret on each part. Cardan tells us that he would never rend a false friendship in pieces, but fairly pick the threads by which it was sown together; but this is hard to do. O what folly is it to make choice of him whom thou canst not keep (for thy friend) without Gods disfavour!

By patching up a friendship with a carnal man, thou bringest thy self to this miserable plunge, either thou must turn Caterer for his flesh, purvey for his sensual appetite, and provide the air of flattery (a more hellish wind then any the Laplanders sell) to feed the Camelion of his pride, or else snap the bones and ligaments of friendship in sunder, which will not be done without some pain and regret on each part. Cardan tells us that he would never rend a false friendship in peices, but fairly pick the threads by which it was sown together; but this is hard to do. O what folly is it to make choice of him whom thou canst not keep (for thy friend) without Gods disfavoru!

Reader,¹ If thine end be good in desiring Companions, thou wilt be wholly frustrated in it, unless thou art wise in thy choice. Canst thou think that he can love thee sincerely,² who is Hypocritical in his love to his own soul? Jonathan was a true friend, and loved David as his own soul. So tis said of Basil and Nazianzen, Anima una inclusa, in duobus corporibus; A wicked man quickly love thee as his own soul, but not ⟨p. 108⟩in Jonathans sense; He loved David as his own soul, according to a renewed and spiritual light, as one that saw the worth of his soul, and his eye affected his heart; but a wicked man hath no love to his own soul in this sense; he loveth (or rather seemeth to love it, by carking and caring to please and pamper it, for indeed he hateth) his dying flesh, but he careth not at all for his everliving spirit, mindeth not whether it sink or swim for ever; Now is it likely that he should be a faithful friend to thee, to direct thee in thy doubts, reprove thee for thy faults, who is such a cruel enemy to himself; Such a one may scare Birds, but he will never secure a Christian; As the Dolphin in a calm Sea, he is never from the sides of the Ship; but if a tempest arise, he is gone; He may indeed shroud his private aims under the cloak of friendship,