discover thy reproach." Again, "Some friend is a companion at the table,
and will not continue in the day of thy affliction: but in thy
prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants. If
thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and hide himself from thy
face."

10. What can be more strong and pointed than the following verse?
"Separate thyself 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