bond ceases. When the motive
of the friendship is removed, the friendship itself disappears. The
perfect friendship is grounded on what is permanent, on goodness, on
character. It is of much slower growth, since it takes some time to
really find out the truly lovable things in a life, but it is lasting,
since the foundation is stable.

The most important point, then, about the choice of friendship is that
we should know what to reject. Countless attractions come to us on the
lower plane. A man may be attracted by what his own conscience tells
him to be unworthy. He may have slipped gradually into companionship
with some, whose influence is even evil. He may have got, almost
without his own will, into a set which is deteriorating his life and
character. He knows the fruits of his weakness, in the lowering of the
moral tone, in the slackening grip of the conscience, in the looser
flow of the blood. He has become pliant in will, feeble in purpose,
and flaccid in character. Every man has a duty to himself to be his
own best self, and he can never be that under the spell of evil
companionship.

Some men mix in doubtful company, and say that they have no Pharisaic
exclusiveness, and even sometimes defend themselves by Christ's
example, who received sinners and ate with them. The comparison
borders on blasphemy. It depends on the purpose, for which sinners are
received. Christ never joined in their sin, but went to save them from
their sin; and wickedness could not lift its head in His presence.
Some seek to be initiated into the mysteries of iniquity, in idle or
morbid curiosity, perhaps to write a realistic book, or to see life, as
it is called. There is often a prurient desire to explore the tracts
of sin, as if information on such subjects meant wisdom. If men are
honest with themselves, they will admit that they join the company of
sinners, for the relish they have for the sin. We must first obey the
moral command to come out from among them and be separate, before it is
possible for us to meet them like Christ. Separateness of soul is the
law of holiness. Of Christ, of whom it was said that this man
receiveth sinners, it was also said that He was separate from sinners.
The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither is the counsel of
sinners prudence. Most young men know the temptation here referred to,
the curiosity to learn the hidden things, and to have the air of those
who know the world.