Chap. 19. An Expofition upon the Rook.. of Jai B. Vert. 14. It is an ancient obfervatiòn That profperitie bath many friends, yea , that all men are greedy to call themfelves the kindred of the rich ; and like fwallowes to flutter about thole who live in the wame fummer of worldly aboundance. Yet the envie of fome is too hard for/their love , and they grow poore and beggarly in their affetlions to thofe who outgrow them in riches and poffeffìons. Some cannot rejoyce in friends any longer then they ftand upon equal! termes and even ground with them. But the ordinary rock upon which friendfhip fullers, is povertie and afiü&ion, that which fhould be the fpeciall fea- fon for friends to Phew themfelves in , becomes the occafion of their falling off, ( Prov. 17. 17. ) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is borne for adverftie ; As ifhe had faid, there is lit- tle or noufe of a brother , but in a time ofadverfitie, or that's the fpeciall time in which we have ufe of him, he is borne for that very end, to all ii and comfort an aii3ieted Brother ; as Chrift fpeakes of witneffe bearing to the truth, (roh. 78. 37.) To this end avas I borne, andfor this caufecame I into the world, that I fhould beare witnes to the truth : As if Chi ift had thus expreffed himfelfe ; I.lhould loofe the very end ofmy birth,the end why I came into the world, ifIfbouldnot Beare witnes to the truth; fo we may conclude, ifbrethrenand friends help not their friends and bre- thren in adverfitie, they lOofe the very end why they were borne, and the defigne of felting ììp that relation. To give witneffe to anoppreffed troth, and to give affiftance to a diftreffed brother, are a payre of the nobleft workeS, which we have to doe in this world. Yet we rarely finde eyther zealt enough in men to give witneffe to oppreffed truthespr love enough in men to give helpe to their diftreffed brethren. Fourthly, Obferve; Holy andgoodmen may be deferted by friends that are holy and good, yob was a good man , and there is no queftion hut. lob had good men to his friends, and that divers of his kindred feared God yet how fhamefully was he owned by them all ? There is no dutiewhether toGod or man, but a good man may come íhort in his anfwer to it In many things we cffend all, and all are apt to offend in this. As the lawof faith in God , fo the lawof K k love 249 áuruxáx Sro- Yú&tao4. Irxe744 éti Qvyyeazrs. frac. Prov.
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