Chap. VIU.]

THE DUTIES OF FRIENDSHIP.

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found such an one, hath found a treasure. Nothing doth coun-tervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable. Afaithful friend is the medicine of life ; and they that fear theLord shall find him.”*

In the choice of a friend, then, besides the personal qualitiesand virtues which are a just ground of personal preference, in-tegrity, in the full meaning of the term, education, sympathy,faithfulness, consistency, prudence, perseverance, unsullied honor,self-command, and a well-disciplined temper, are indispensable.

2. A wise caution and prudent deliberation in our choicemay perhaps be regarded rather as preliminary to the duties offriendship, than as actual duties arising from this connexion.These cannot in strictness be said to commence, until friend-ship has been formed.

(1.) One of the first and most imperative of these duties is,the liberal interchange and reciprocation of confidence. Onthis part of the subject, the ancient writers speak in language,which must seem to savour not only of enthusiasm, but of abso-lute extravagance, in these calculating, — these utilitarian times.“ If you think any one your friend,” says Seneca, “ in whomyou do not put the same confidence as in yourself, you know notthe real power of friendship. Consider long, whether the indi-vidual whom you view with regard, is worthy of being admittedto your bosom ; but, when you have judged, and found him trulyworthy, admit him to your very heart. You should so live,indeed, as to trust nothing to your conscience , which you wouldnot trust to your enemy; but, at least to your friend, let all beopen. He will be the more faithful, as your confidence in hisfidelity is more complete.” f “The life of no man,” saysCicero, “ is worth living, who cannot refresh himself with themutual benevolence and confidence of friendship. What ismore pleasant than to have a friend, with whom you can con-verse as familiarly as with yourself. He who sees a true friend,sees, as it were, an exemplar of himself. Through the influenceof friendship,” continues he, “ the absent are always present,the poor are made rich, the weak become strong, and, what is

* Ecclesiaslicus vi. 6- 16.

t Ep. III. Vol II. p. 6. ed. Amst.