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XVII.

retain to the laft a tenderness and SER M. warmth, feldom poffeffed by friendships that are formed in the riper periods of life. The remembrance of ancient and youthful connections melts every human heart, and the diffolution of them is, perhaps, the most painful feeling to which we are expofed here below. But at whatever period of life friendships are formed, as long as they continue fincere and affectionate, they form, undoubtedly, one of the greatest bleffings we can enjoy. By the pleafing communication of all our fentiments which they prompt, they are justly said to double our pleasures, and to divide our forrows. They give a brighter funshine to the gay incidents of life; and they enlighten the gloom of its darker hours. A faithful friend, it is juftly and beautifully faid, by one of the Apocryphal writers, is the medicine of life*. A variety of occafions happen, when to pour forth

Ecclefiafticus vi. 16.

SER M. forth the heart to one whom we love

XVII. and truft, is the chief comfort, perhaps

the only relief, we can enjoy. Miferable is he who, fhut up within the narrow inclosure of felfifh intereft, has no person to whom he can at all times, with full confidence, expand his foul.

SINCE cordial friendship is fo great a bleffing to human life, let us proceed to confider what duties it requires, and by what methods it may be cultivated to most advantage. The fundamental qualities of true friendship are, conftancy and fidelity. Without these material ingredients, it is of no value. An inconftant man is not capable of friendship. He may perhaps have affections which occafionally glow in his heart; which excite fondness for amiable qualities; or connect him with feeming attachment to one whom he esteems, or to whom he has been obliged. But after these feelings have lafted for a little, either fancied intereft alienates him, or fome new object at

tracts

XVII.

tracts him; and he is no longer the SER M. fame person to those whom he once loved. A man of this inconstant mind

cannot be faid to have any mind at all. For where there is no fixedness of moral principle, occafional feelings are of no value; mind is of no effect; and with fuch perfons it is never defirable to have any connexion. Where conftancy is wanting, there can be no fidelity, which is the other bafis of friendship. For all friendship supposes entire confidence and truft; fuppofes the feal of fecrecy to be inviolable; fuppofes promifes and engagements to be facred; and no advantage of our own to be pursued, at the expence of our friend's honour. An inconstant man, is defpicable. A faithlefs man, is base.

But fuppofing neither conftancy nor fidelity to be altogether wanting, ftill however friendship is in hazard of fuffering from the follies, and unreasonable humours,

SER M. humours, to which all of us are liable. XVII. It is to be regarded as a tender plant in an unfavourable foil, which, in order to its flourishing, requires to be reared and nurfed with care. The following directions may be of ufe for promoting its cultivation, and preferving it from whatever might be apt to blast and wither it.

IN the first place, let me advise you not to expect perfection in any with whom you contract friendship. It holds in general, with refpect to all worldly pursuits, that the more moderate our expectations are, they are likely to be the more fuccefsful. If, in any fituation of life, we hope to poffefs complete happiness, we may depend on receiving mortifications. If, in any person, we trust to find nothing but perfection, we may be affured that on longer acquaintance, we fhall meet with difappointments. In the cafe of friendfhip, this admonition is the more neceffa

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ry to be given, as a certain warmth and S ERM. enthusiasm belong to it, which are apt to carry us beyond the bounds of nature. In young minds, especially, a difpofition of this kind is often found to take place. They form to themselves romantic ideas, gathered perhaps from fictitious hiftories, of the high and heroic qualities which belong to human nature. All thofe qualities they afcribe, without referve or limitation, to the person with whom they wish to enter into intimate friendship; and on the leaft failure appearing, alienation instantly follows. Hence many a friendship, haftily perhaps contracted, is as hastily diffolved, and disgust fucceeds to violent attachment.-Remember, my friends, that a faultlefs character on earth is a mere chimera. Many failings you experience in yourselves. Be not surprifed, when you discover the like in others, of whom you had formed the highest opinion. The best and most estimable perfons are they, in whom the feweft material defects are found; and whofe great

and

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