Seventhly, To satisfy some bosom friends, some faithful friends; man is made to be a friend▪ and apt for ⟨image 7⟩friendly offices; he that is not friendly, is not worthy to have a friend, and he that hath a friend, and doth •ot show himself friendly, is not worthy to be accounted a man; friendship is a kind of life, without which there is no comfort of a mans life. Christian friendship1 ties such a knot, that great Alexander cannot cut: Summer friends I value not, but winter friends are worth their weight in gold, and wh• can deny such any thing, especially in th•se days, wherein real, faithful, constant friends are so rare to be found?2 The friendship of most men in these days, is like Jonahs Gourd; now very promising and flourishing, and anon fading and withering; it is like some plants in the water, which have broad leaves on the surface of the water, but scarce any root at all; their friendship is like Lemons, cold within, hot without; their expressions are high, but their affections are low, they speak much, but do little; as Drums and Trumpets, and Ensigns in a battle make a great noise, and a fine show, but act nothing: so these counterfeit ⟨image 8⟩friends will▪ complement highly, how handsomely, speak plausibly, and promise lustily, and yet have neither a hand nor a heart to act any thing cordially or faithfully; from such friends it is a mercy to be delivered: And therefore King Antigonus was wont to pray to God that he would protect him from his friends, and when one of his Council asked him why he prayed so, he returned this answer, every man will shun and defend himself against his professed enemies, but from our professed or pretended friends, of whom few are faithful, none can safe-guard himself, but hath need of protection from Heaven; but for all this there are some that are real friends, faithful friends, active friends, winter friends, bosom friends, fast friends, and for their sakes (especially those among them) that have been long, very long under the Smarting Rod, and in the fiery Furnace, and that have been often poured from vessel to vessel, have I once more appeared in Print to the world.
Seventhly, To satisfie some bosomefriends, some faithful friends; man is made to bee a friend▪ and apt for ⟨image 7⟩friendly offices; hee that is not friendly, is not worthy to have a friend, and hee that hath a friend, and doth •ot shew h•mself friendly, is not worthy to bee accounted a man; friendship is a kinde of life, without which there is no comfort of a mans life. Christian friendship1 ties such a knot, that great Alexander cannot cut: Summer friends I value not, but winter friends are worth their weight in gold, and wh• can deny such any thing, especially in th•se daies, wherein real, faithful, constant friends are so rare to bee found?2 The friendship of most men in these daies, is like Jonahs Gourd; now very promising and flourishing, and anon fading and withering; it is like some plants in the water, which have broad leaves on the surface of the water, but scarce any root at all; their friendship is like Lemons, cold within, hot without; their expressions are high, but their affections are low, they speak much, but do little; as Drumms and Trumpets, and Ensigns in a battel make a great noise, and a fine shew, but act nothing: so these counterfeit ⟨image 8⟩friends will▪ complement highly, how hansomely, speak plausibly, and promise lustily, and yet have neither a hand nor a heart to act any thing cordially or faithfully; from such friends it is a mercy to bee delivered: And therefore King Antigonus was wont to pray to God that hee would protect him from his friends, and when one of his Council asked him why hee prayed so, hee returned this answer, every man will shun and defend himself against his professed enemies, but from our professed or pretended friends, of whom few are faithful, none can safe-guard himself, but hath need of protection from Heaven; but for all this there are some that are real friends, faithful friends, active friends, winter friends, bosomefriends, fast friends, and for their sakes (especially those among them) that have been long, very long under the Smarting Rod, and in the fiery Furnace, and that have been often poured from vessel to vessel, have I once more appeared in Print to the world.
- 11 Sam. 22. 1, 2. 3.
- 2O• my friends! I have never a friend, said Socrates; a friend is a very mutable creature, saith Plato
