Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

170 That the friendfhip o f wict'ed lborldlings is to he contemned. vera amicitia whereby they helpe one another forward in vertuous aeli- taotum inter ons, and further their good ends and indeauors. To which bous oritar, purpofe one faith ; that all true friendflüp aril tlh and beginneth inter b , nteróP7i bet ecent shore that are good, enereafethamong the good, and is mosco¡mma_ mal perfefl among thofe who are bell and mn/l vertuous; and tir. ca /flan. fu- another affirmeth,that see cannot be true friends unto men viles. per.P fat we be firfl friends unto the truth. With whom- allo a third a-- Aug.epiit.ad Macedon.5z, greeth, faying,that all loue of the flefh is corrupt, andthat all tom.z. worldlyfriend(hip isfalfe and counterfaite,whichis. not knit to- gether with the bond of Gods feare;t here being no true fidelitie in Chryfoll. in the f ruants of the dtuell. Neither is it the fruit of true friend Mar.ro.Ho- fhi that our faith towards God fhould through it bee vio- md.z4. tom. 2. P g cap.9c8. laced; for he cannot bee a true friend veto man, who hath Pietatis villas (hewed himfelfe vnfaithfull.vnto God -: taor yet.can it bee in amicitia cil. euili,feeing (as one faith) friendlhip is the keeper andpreferuer BafiLHomil.9., ofpietie; and therefore that friendfhip which is with wicked de ira. worldlin sis to be contemned and abhorred, as being falle rlmicitia in g s s g taalo effenon and counterfeite, feeing it is with the euill, in euill, and for potefl.Aug. cuili ends,and not grounded vpon the loue of God,butvp- ádConfent. on worldly refpe6ts to ferue their owne turnes; and vpon Idle loue that they may haue profit or pleafure by them; in eating, drinking,difcourfing,gaming, fporting,and luch o- the rcarnall delights. Whereupon it followeth that it is de- ceitful! and inconflant: for whereas truc friendfhip is im- mutable and perpetuall,becaufe it is grounded on verrue, and on the loue ofGod,which is vnchangeable; this world- ly friendfhip is flickering and vnconflant,lafling no longer then thefe worldly refpet% and ends of pleafure and profit lafl, whereupon it wholly relleth and relieth. And Errat autë qui therefore (as one faith) bee foully erreth, who feeketh fora ami cum in at rio friend in the court, and trieth him at a banquet ; neither cana quant, in ton- wer fe thing befallaman much imployed in the world, andfloart- fhing inpro fperitie,then that he imaginer them tobe friends ve- to him,vnto whom he is no ;thinkiing that bis benefits are power - fall enough ta procure friends: whereas Tome men the more they are obliged, the more they maligne their benefatl ors : for [mall moneyes lent make debters; butgreat femmes >en:emies; beaaufe all hope is takenaway of requital],and pride nsaketh them to ututo prooat, &c.Senec. epitk.r9.