a Means of attaining to Wifdom. 11 S tionably hurtful in Idler affociations. How S E R Nt. deeply fhould it affeEt the hearts of finners, XII. that inftead of being ferviceable, they have `"° ' been mifchievous to families and other fo- cieties in which they were joined, efpecially thofe in fuperior relations, whofe inftruftions and good examples might be very profitable ? How many parents, and others in ftations of authority, who by living well, and by care in the management of children, and fuch as are committed to their truft and in- fpeEtion, might be the happy inftruments of forming them to virtue, on the contrary lead them headlong to all manner of wick - ednefs, and to deftrudion at laft ? I will only add, in the Lau place, That we ought to be very careful in the choice of our friends and in- timate companions. Friendfhip is certainly one of the greateft and nobleft pleafures of life ; they who are utter ftrangers to it have, indeed, but a low tafte of life, and have not experienced its belt enjoyments : But it is not every kind of familiarity among men, that is worthy the facred name of friend - fhip; when it is abufed to mean and un- worthy purpofes, or is founded on felfifh corrupt affeäions and pafl'ions, it is then not only vicious, but humourfome, precarious, 3 and ü;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=