Bates - BT766 B3 1699

144 Fi'Qr prima Iex in amicitia fan- claw : ue ne- áue rogzmus res turpes, neque faciamus roga- ti. Spiritual PerPion. and Pride in the Will, perverfe Obffi- racy. The mutual difcharge of this Duty , is the moff precious , defirable and advantageous benefit of Friendfhip. We muff perform it to all within the compafs of our, direaion and warm in- fluence : we muff imitaç the Angels earneff Counfel to Lot, 'efcape for thy life our of Sodom, not to delay, that he might not be confúm'd. O that this Angelical Zeal and Compaffion poffefs'd the breaftt of Chriflians. It may iuffly cover with Confufion many who profefs entire Friendfhip to others, and yet their Converfation with them is direaly oppofite to the Rules of Friendfhip laid down by the Wife and Vertuous Heathens. Scipio preferib'd this flrff and inviolable Rule of Friend- fhip, That we never de are our Friends to do agis of Moral Turpitude, nor do them though defired. Another as ufeful a Rule is laid down by : 'Tis the infepa- rableproperty of fincere Friendfhip, to give and receive admonition : to give it freely not harjhly : to receive it meekly, not with recoil and reluc`iancy. Thefe Vertuous Heathens will rife in judgment againft many, who by fordid and bale Aas, by filthy Luffs and filthy Lucre, foment and maintain their Friendfhips : that count it the fureft prefervative ofFriendfhip, to

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