f from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends." In
the next words he particularizes one of those fruits of friendship which
is described at length by the two famous authors above mentioned, and
falls into a general eulogium of friendship, which is very just as well
as very sublime.

11. "A faithful friend is a strong defence; and he that hath found such
a one, hath found a treasure. Nothing doth countervail a faithful
friend, and his excellence is invaluable. A faithful friend is the
medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord, shall find him. Whoso
feareth the Lord, shall direct his friendship aright; for as he is, so
shall his neighbour (that is, his friend) be also."

12. I do not remember to have met with any saying that has pleased me
more than that of a friend's being the medicine of life, to express the
efficacy of friendship in healing the pains and anguish which naturally
cleave to our existence in this world; and am wonderfully pleased with
the turn in the last sentence, That a virtuous man shall, as a blessing,
meet with a friend who is as virtuous as himself.

13. There is another saying in the same author, which would have been
very much admired in an heathen writer: "Forsake not an old friend, for
the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it
is old thou shalt drink it with pleasure."

14. With what strength of allusion, and force of thought, has he
described the breaches and violations of friendship! "Whoso casteth a
stone at the birds, frayeth them away; and he that upbraideth his
friend, breaketh friendship. Though thou drawest a sword at a friend,
yet despair not, for there may be a returning to favor; if thou hast
opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, for there may be a
reconciliation; except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of
secrets, or a treacherous wound; for, for these things, every friend
will depart."

15. We may observe in this and several other precepts in this author,
those little familiar instances and illustrations which are so much
admired in the moral writings of _Horace_ and _Epictetus_. There are
very beautiful instances of this nature in the following pages, which
are likewise written upon the same subject:

16. "Whoso discovereth secrets, loseth his credit, and shall never find
a friend to his mind. Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him; but if
thou betrayest his secret, follow no more after him; for as a man hath
destroyed