But who can fufficiently express the confolation which anxiety, disappointment, dependance, forrow, contrition, remorse when finking into defpair, have derived from the cordial influence of Holy Friendfhip? Well might it be termed "The "Medicine of Life." A ftate of fuffering has been always confidered as the fureft teft of its value, and the nobleft sphere of its operation. Will you indulge me with a patient hearing, if, in one Addrefs more on this inexhaustible theme, I proceed to fhow you fome of the Comforts enjoyed in a Virtuous Friend at feafons, when the leagues formed by Vice are impotent and vain, disgusting and vexatious?

They are feldom, perhaps, more fo than under the reftle finefs and anguish attendant on a fenfe of guilt, when roused by affliction from the flumber in which eafe and flattery had lulled it. Grant, Sir, that the companion of your gayer

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hours, who foothed your follies, and shared your riots, afterwards manifested, on your falling into adverfity, a tendernefs and folicitude not very common among perfons of his character, who have been often obferved to abandon in their greatest need thofe that in their profperous days they loaded with proteftations of fidelity. Suppofe this more honourable affociate, to employ his utmost endeavours for your fuccour; but that in the mean while your calamity preffes, your spirits are dejected, and a recollection of past mifconduct awakens the terrors natural to confcious iniquity; terrors which, when they rife in their full ftrength, can shake the ftouteft finners to the foundation, In this fore trial, how fhall he support or confole you; He, I fay, whofe paffions and principles are of the fame unhappy caft with your own? How fhall he open in your mind thofe fources of penitence and peace to which he is himself a stranger? Perceive you not at this inftant, that his

vifits, his conversation, his attentions, all the proofs of fympathy which he can give you, muft ever be inadequate to circumftances like yours, having "no relish of "falvation in them," no reference to futurity? Perceive you not that your inward perturbation must, instead of being allayed by any thing fo fuperficial, receive an increase from the very presence of the man, who during your wild career contributed only to ftimulate and blind you, as it brings to your remembrance tranfgreffions which you wish to be buried in eternal oblivion?

But now fuppofe a man of virtue to have been thrown off his guard, and by fome grievous deviation to have loft the joys of innocence: fuppofe him agitated by the painful reflection, and anxious to regain his former path. Let him lay open his condition to a wife and pious Friend let that Friend addrefs him with the eloquence of kindnefs, compaffionate the

frailty of his nature, remind him of the mercies of his Creator, point his "la

bouring and heavy-laden" foul to the great Reftorer of fallen humanity, and encourage him to rife in the ftrength of Heaven, and pursue his way thither with augmented vigilance and fteadiness Where shall we find language to set forth the comfort, the hope, the humble but joyful fenfe of divine forgiveness and immortal triumph, that fuch communication will diffufe through his bofom? Would you wonder if the friendly vifitant should in this cafe appear to his enraptured thoughts as fome miniftering Seraph, fent from the Throne of Goodness to his relief, or if fuch feafonable words fhould vibrate in his ear like the melodies of Paradife?

It is no uncommon remark, that Friendfhip has been given more especially to the afflicted, for leffening their troubles by dividing them and may we not add, that in fubjecting man to fo much evil it was

probably one main purpose of Providence, to furnish a larger field for the exercise of this divine affection? There is not, we are certain, in all the attractions of profperity, that power of inciting Friendship, which it is fure to find in the diftrefs of its object; fo mercifully has the Almighty contrived, that its energies fhall then be moft ready and efficacious when they are most useful and neceffary. It is apparent from history, that the highest strains of this virtue have been ufually discovered in fuch conjunctures of public affairs, as expofed the properties and lives of individuals to the greatest danger; thofe magnanimous qualities which enter into the compofition of a noble Friendship being then more ftrongly kindled into action, and the human mind exalted by the importance and arduoufness of the occafion above its ordinary pitch; as if the production of Heroes, and that of Friends, depended on one and the fame cause.

VOL. II.

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