278 Chap. r9. An E.xpofition upon the Booke of JO B. Verf. r g. priviledge above many, to be called the friend of god. God calls but fome Saints, his beloved ones, his 7edediahs, his favou- rites, thoughhe loveand favourall that are Saints. He fpakeof the wholepeopleof Ifrael, Youhave .1 known (that is, you have d loved) above all the Nations in the world ; fo men may fee rea- fon to love with a diftindion, to place the heate and height of their affections upon fotue beyondothers, to whom they beare goodaffe&ion. Observe Secondly. The luveof man is ill requitedbyforme men; or,They to whom wehave done many goodturnes, turne fometimes not onely from us, but againfl as, andPhew themfelves not onely no friends, but enemies. That man is lefre then a friend who ceafeth to doe us good, but he is a downe-right enemy, who contrives orads our hurt. What Chrift Paid to the ?ewes ( John io. 32. ) we may fay tofuch friends (inour thcafure) Maoygood works have we done amongyeu,and toyou, forwhich ofthem doyee(lone us. When friends decline in their love, they encline to hatred. And while they are not with us, they may benumbred with thole who are againft us : Neutralitie towards a friend is a kindofenmi- tie ; but 'ob's friends became his enemies in kinde. Of fuchDa- vid complaines( Pfal. 109. 4,5.) For my love they were mine ad- verfaries,they have rewaredmeevillforgood,andhatredfor mygood will. And againe ( Pfal. 55. r 2, 13,14. ) It was not an adverfary that fet him¡elf again/l me ( Who was it then ? it was one whom he once reckonedhis choicer} friend ) It was thouOman,my corn- panion,myguide andmyfamiliar friend,weCooke fweetecounfell to- gether, andwent to the houfeof Clodasfriends. None prove worfe enemies then they that have received the greateft kindnefles, when once they turneunkinde. As the fharpeit Vinéger is made ofthe pureft Wine, and pleafant mutes turne to the bittereft humours in the ftomacke fo the higheft love be[towed upon friends, being ill &gelled, orcorrupted, turnes to the moll un- .ui fe nimium friendly hatred. ThePhilofopher faith ; They who love one ano- amant, bi fe ni- ther too much, hate oneanother moft. As no excelle oflove is of ha- bat. odio any long continuance, fo when they whomwe have lovedmode- s. 7. ratelybegin to hate us, they hate us more thenfuch can whom we
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