every natural sensation of delight, exalted by that friendliness and reciprocity of feeling,
"Outspringing from the purest tree
Of deeply-planted sympathy."
A virtuous and well-chosen friend has justly been styled one of the greatest blessings man can possibly possess. There is something so pleasing and delightful in the idea of reciprocal affection, that life, in a great measure, would be insupportable without it. When we are persecuted by the world, and destitute of most of those comforts which are contained in it, friendship supplies their place, and is often more than a counterbalance in our favour. Nothing, therefore, appears more reasonable, or more congenial to our natural feelings, than to promote mutual intercourse: surely, then, we shall strive to cultivate those feelings which the new commandment enjoins, and "love one another."
But what is the friendship of man compared with that which the Lord has for us? and which the wise man speaks of in the motto, "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." If we value the friendship of men like ourselves, and strive to obtain it, how much more ought we to value the friendship of our Saviour and our God. And we may obtain this friendship; the Lord is ever waiting to be our friend; we have only to love Him, believe in Him, and fulfil His injunctions, to secure His friendship; and without His friendship, the connexions of the world are of very minor consideration. Suppose any person loved us so well that he would lay down his life, were it needful, to save ours; what would that avail us, if, at the same time, we were enemies to God? And, sup-
