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your friends. When upon proper S ERM. grounds you have formed a connection, be flow of believing any thing against the friend whom you have chosen. Remember, that there is among mankind a spirit of malignity, which too often takes pleasure in disturbing the fociety of those who appear to enjoy one another. The feripture hath warned us, that there is a whisperer who feparateth chief friends; there is a falfe witness who foweth difcord among brethren. Give not therefore a ready ear to the officious infinuations of those who, under the guife of friendly concern, come to admonish you, that you ought to ftand on your guard against thofe whom they see you difpofed to truft. Confider, whether, under this fair appearance, there may not lurk fome fecret envy and rivalry, or fome concealed interest. Chase not every flying report. Suffer not the poifon of jealoufy eafily to taint your mind, and break your peace. A wide difference there is between that weak credulity which allows itfelf to be im pofed upon blindly, and that dark and fufpicious

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SER M. fufpicious spirit which is always inclined to the evil fide. It forms part of the character of a wife and good man, that he is not prone to take up a reproach against his neighbour.

In the fixth and last place, let me exhort you not to defert your friend in danger or distress. Too many there are in the world, whose attachment to those they call their friends is confined to the day of their profperity. As long as that continues, they are, or appear to be, affectionate and cordial. But as foon as their friend is under a cloud, they begin to withdraw, and to separate their interefts from his. In friendships of this fort, the heart, affuredly, has never had much concern. For the great test of true friendship, is conftancy in the hour of danger, adherence in the season of distress.-When your friend is calumniated, then is the time, openly and boldly to efpoufe his cause. When his fituation is changed, or his fortunes are falling, then is the time of affording

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affording prompt and zealous aid. When S ER M. fickness or infirmity occafion him to be neglected by others, that is the opportunity which every real friend will feize, of redoubling all the affectionate attentions which love fuggefts. These are the important duties, the facred claims of friendship, which religion and virtue enforce on every worthy mind.-To show yourselves warm, after this manner, in the cause of your friend, commands esteem, even from those who have personal interest in opposing him. This honourable zeal of friendship, has, in every age, attracted the veneration of mankind. It has confecrated to the latest posterity the names of those who have given up their fortunes, and have even expofed their lives, in behalf of the friends whom they loved; while ignominy and difgrace have ever been the portion of them, who deferted their friends in the evil day. Thine own friend for fake not.

BEFORE Concluding, it must not be forgotten, that the injunction of the

SER M.Wife Man in the text, is accompanied

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with this remarkable expreffion; not only thine own friend, but also, thy father's friend forfake not. These words bring back to our remembrance the days of former years; and fuggeft a fentiment, which cannot but touch every feeling heart. Thine own friend may be dear; thy father's friend ought to be facred. As long as life remains in any human breast, the memory of those antient ties should remain, which connected us once with our father, and our father's houfe. Thy father has perhaps, long ago, gone down to the duft. But when you recal the innocent days of childhood and youth; when you think of those family tranfactions which once gladdened your hearts; your father's friend, in the midst of these, will rise to your femembrance. There was a time when you accosted him with respect, or looked up to him with fondnefs, and was made happy by his kindly notice. Does fuch a one now furvive, and fhall he not receive from you fome portion of filial

reverence

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feverence and honour? To difregards ER M. and neglect him, is to fpurn your father's memory; is to infult the afhes of hith who now fleeps in the grave; is to tranfmit yourselves to those who shall fucceed you, as unfeeling and base. Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, for fake not.

I HAVE pointed out fome of the chief duties which belong to virtuous friendship; and some of the principal means by which this facred bond fhould be preferved unbroken; this holy flame should be kept alive in the human breast. The spirit, and fentiments, which I have studied to inspire, are such as virtue breathes, and fuch as true piety should increase. It is thus we fulfil that great law of love, which our divine Mafter taught. It is thus we prepare ourselves for thofe happy regions, there charity never faileth; where, in the presence of the God of love, eternal and invariable friendships unite together all the bleffed; friendships,

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