whom we know to be not well affected towards us. But if the favours of difaffection are irksome, the gifts of friendship are doubly valuable. That which gives us real pain, when received from one man, affects us, when bestowed by another, with the most lively pleasure. Of this, DAVID, on the prefent occafion, must be truly fenfible. And all, who saw the ruddy youth divested of his ruffet coat and fcrip, and adorned with the royal robes of his illuftrious friend, must be ready to fay, See Jonathan's other felf, although it be in a different form! Sumptuous drefs becomes high ftations; and they who wear coftly robes, are in Kings houses. DAVID was in a King's houfe, and was defigned by Providence to be the immediate fucceffor to the crown.

And his elevation, altho' at the expence of his own claims, his generous friend was ambitious of promoting; and for that reafon delighted to see him arrayed, in a manner fuitable to the heir apparent. Well, therefore, might DAVID fay, Thy love to me was wonderful, paffing the love of women. For fuch is the fondness of that fex for fhew and external ornament, that I believe it is seldom feen, that they can acquire greatness of mind fufficient to give it from their own

perfons, to adorn their rivals. Indeed, were they capable of fo much Heroifm, the Queen of Sheba, in all her glory, could not appear with greater advantage to the external eye, than fuch women evidently must to the intellectual. Such however was the magnanimous fpirit of JONATHAN, or he would not have ftript himself to do honour to his humble friend; an honour peculiarly enhanced by the mode of conferring it. AHASUERUS, it is faid, asked his favourite, What should be done to the man, whom the King delighted to honour? to whom the ambitious HAMAN made an

fwer, Let the royal apparel be brought, which the King ufeth to wear, and the horse that the King rideth upon, and the crown royal which is fet upon his head: and public proclamation be made through the city; thus fhall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour.

THE proud man, who wished and thought this honour defigned for himfelf, could not mount higher in idea, nor devise any thing more magnificent. In a manner no lefs fuperb and fplendid, was JOSEPH, in Egypt, diftinguished by the gracious and royal PHARAOH. And DANIEL, at the Perfian court, was cloathed in fcarlet, and had a chain of gold

gold' put about his neck, by the command of

BELSH AZZAR.

BUT whatever propriety or dignity there might be in the gift, it was the principle, from which it flowed, which ftamped on it it's chiefeft value. Friendship is feated in the heart, and is equally eftimable, whether apparelled in a ruffet coat, or a royal robe. For externals are no more to the effence of it, than the casket is to the jewel it contains. It's excellence is intrinfic; and it's due praise would exhaust the most copious language. It has indeed been the favourite theme of writers in every age; but their most eloquent pane-. gyrics fhew rather that they wished to do justice to their fubject, than that they really did it. A true friend is thus defcribed by one of them : "He is the comfort of mife-' "ries; the guide of difficulties; the joy of "life; the treasure of earth; and no other "than a good Angel cloathed in flesh." An union with fuch a friend doubles our pleafure, and divides our pain; and is often dearer to us than the nearest ties of kindred. Indeed, without friendship, even Heaven itself would not be the mansion of bliss; for this it is which constitutes that harmony, without

which, happiness can have no exiftence. And as to this terreftrial abode, it's choiceft delights, without it, are but infipid and difgufting. From friendship, fociety derives all it's relish; and without fociety, even EDEN. would be irkfome. ADAM could not gather the fruits of Paradife, when folitary, with fatisfaction. Even brutes affociate with their kindred brutes. But mere fociety is not all that man feels the want of; he wants a friend; he wants a fecond felf, to whom, without referve, he may give vent to all the effufions of his heart. The celebrated Dr. YOUNG has thus expreffed himself on this fubject:

"Know't thou, LORENZO! what a Friend contains ?
As bees mixt nectar draw from fragrant flow'rs,

"So men from FRIENDSHIP, wisdom and delight';
"Twins ty'd by nature, if they part they die.
"Haft thou no friend to fet thy mind abroach?
"Good fenfe will ftagnate. Thoughts fhut up want air,
And fpoi', like bales unopen'd to the fun.

"Had thought been all, sweet speech had been deny'd;
"Speech, thought's canal! fpeech, thought's criterion too.
Thought in the mine, may come forth gold or drofs;
"When coin'd in word, we know it's real worth.

"If fterling; ftore it for thy future use ;

Twill buy thee benefit; perhaps, renown."

̈་

THE generous fervour of a fteady friend, in whom are happily united the will and power

of

of doing good, has fuch an emanation of the divinity in it, as muft fupremely exalt the character it animates. And what confidence may we not repose in such a friend! Therefore we ought to lay open our hearts to him without referve, as clients do their causes to their counfel; and fhould fubmit to his examination every hidden thought, if we would expect the benefit of an unbiaffed judgment. For otherwise how can we be faid to blend fouls or how is it poffible for our friend to form fuch an impartial and juft opinion of the cafe, as may enable him to give us the best advice? Without fuch a full developement of every circumftance, we may be led into fuch a labyrinth of errors, as will not leave it in the power of any friendship to extricate us,

BESIDES, it is derogatory of the true value of a friend, and an abatement of that confidence, to which he is entitled, if we behave towards him with fhynefs and referve. By fuch a conduct we deprive ourselves of the rich fruits of confolation, the gentle foothings of compaffion, and the cool deliberations of mature judgment. By the weight of adverfity and the bitterness of affliction, we are

often