’That we should have many Well-wishers, but few ‘Friends.’

  Sweet Language will multiply Friends; and a fair-speaking Tongue will
  increase kind Greetings.  Be in Peace with many, nevertheless have but
  one Counsellor of a thousand. [1]

With what Prudence does he caution us in the Choice of our Friends?  And with what Strokes of Nature (I could almost say of Humour) has he described the Behaviour of a treacherous and self-interested Friend?

If thou wouldst get a Friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to credit him:  For some Man is a Friend for his own Occasion, and will not abide in the Day of thy Trouble.  And there is a Friend, who being turned to Enmity and Strife will discover thy Reproach.

Again,

Some Friend is a Companion at the Table, and will not continue in the Day of thy Affliction:  But in thy Prosperity he will be as thy self, and will be bold over thy Servants.  If thou be brought low he will be against thee, and hide himself from thy Face. [2]

What can be more strong and pointed than the following Verse?

  Separate thy self from thine Enemies, and take heed of thy Friends.

In the next Words he particularizes one of those Fruits of Friendship which is described at length by the two famous Authors above-mentioned, and falls into a general Elogium of Friendship, which is very just as well as very sublime.

A faithful Friend is a strong Defence; and he that hath found such an one, hath found a Treasure.  Nothing doth countervail a faithful Friend, and his Excellency is unvaluable.  A faithful Friend is the Medicine of Life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.  Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his Friendship aright; for as he is, so shall his Neighbour (that is, his Friend) be also. [3]

I do not remember to have met with any Saying that has pleased me more than that of a Friend’s being the Medicine of Life, to express the Efficacy of Friendship in healing the Pains and Anguish which naturally cleave to our Existence in this World; and am Wonderfully pleased with the Turn in the last Sentence, That a virtuous Man shall as a Blessing meet with a Friend who is as virtuous as himself.  There is another Saying in the same Author, which would have been very much admired in an Heathen Writer;

  Forsake not an old Friend, for the new is not comparable to him:  A
  new Friend is as new Wine; When it is old thou shalt drink it with
  Pleasure. [4]

With what Strength of Allusion and Force of Thought, has he described the Breaches and Violations of Friendship?