needs be the fame, with much greater advantage.

And therefore when God had manifested himself in the flesh, how facredly did he preferve this privilege? How freely did Christ unbofom himself to his difciples? Unto you (fays he) it is given to know the myfteries of the kingdom of God; but unto others in parables: that feeing they might not fee. And again, he says, Many prophets and righteous men, have defired to fee those things which ye fee, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye bear, and have not beard them. The

5TH ADVANTAGE of friendship, is counfel and advice. In being fingle and alone, there is not only discomfort, but weakness alfo. And that faying of the wife man, Woe to him that is alone, is verified upon none so much, as upon the friendless fon.

per

When a man fhall be perplexed with knots and difficulties in his affairs; where the determination is doubtful, and which way foever the choice determines, he is fure to venture a great concern ;-how happy VOL. III.

then

then is it, to fetch-in aid from another perfon, whofe judgment may be greater than our own, and whofe concern for our intereft is no lefs.

Now Chrift is not failing in this office of a friend alfo. For in that illuftrious prediction of Isaiah, amongst the rest of his great titles, he is called the Mighty Counsellor. And his counsel is not only fure, but also free. The only price that he fets upon his counsel is, that we follow it; and that we do that, which is best for us to do.

He is a light to thofe that fit in darkness. He is understanding to the ignorant, and eyes to the blind. And therefore every fincere christian may comfort himself in this high privilege, that in the great things which concern his eternal peace, he is not left to ftand or fall, by the uncertain directions of his own judgment. Chrift never leaves any of his followers perplexed, amazed, or bewildered, where the welfare of their fouls requires a better judgment than their own, either to guide them in their duty, or to disentangle them from a temptation.

6. THE laft and crowning privilege or property of friendship, is conftancy.-Not that we ought to suppose any conftancy or continuance in friendship to be, or that it ought to be, fuch,-as no injuries, or provocations whatsoever can break off. But the true nature of conftancy is this: It is fuch a ftability and firmness of friendship, as overlooks and paffes by, all thofe leffer failures of kindnefs and refpect, which, partly thro' paffion, partly thro' indifcretion, and fuch other frailties incident to human nature, a man may be fometimes guilty of, and yet ftill retain the fame habitual good will, and prevailing propenfity of mind, to his friend, that he had before.

But how few tempers in the world, are of that magnanimous frame, as to reach the heights of fo great a virtue. Many offer at the effects of friendship, but they do not laft; they are promifing in the beginning, but they fail and fall fhort in the prosecution. For most people in the world are acted by levity, and humour, and by strange and unreasonable changes.

But now, that we may pafs from one contrary to another,-Chrift, who is the Q2

fame

fame yesterday, and to day, and for ever, in his being, is fo alfo in his affection.

Friendship is a kind of covenant ; and moft covenants, run upon mutual terms and conditions. And therefore fo long as we are exact in fulfilling the condition on our parts, I mean, exact according to the meafures of fincerity, tho' not of perfection, we

may be fure that Chrift will not fail in the leaft, to fulfil every thing on his part. The favour of men, is uncertain and variable; and the friendship which they take up, upon the accounts of judgment, and merit, they many times lay down out of humour. But. the friendship of Chrift hath none of these weakneffes. For neither principalities, nor powers, things prefent, nor things to come, fhall be able to feparate from Christ the meaneft of his friends; for whom he loveth, he loveth unto the end.

Now from the particulars hitherto dif courfed of, we may infer and learn these two things:

1. The excellency and value of friendship. Chrift the fon of the moft high God, the fecond perfon in the glorious Trinity, took upon.

"upon him our nature, that he might give a great inftance and example of this virtue; and condefcended to be a'man, only that he might be a friend. Our creator, our lord and king, he was before; but he would needs come down from all this, and (in a fort) become our equal, that he might partake of that noble quality that is properly between equals. Chrift took not upon him flesh and blood, that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or poffefs palaces; but that he might have the relenting, the tenderness, and the compaffions of human nature, which render it properly capable of friendship.

2. We learn from hence, the high allvantage of being truly pious and religious. When we have said and done all, it is only the true christian, and the religious person, who is, or can be fure of a friend; fure of obtaining, and fure of keeping him.

But as for the friendship of the world; when a man fhall have done all that he can to make one his friend, employed the utmoft of his wit and labour, to create an endearment, between him and the perfon Q3 whofe