By the

way,

this recalls to our remem brance the very beautiful ftory of three Friends, one of whom being about to die, and having nothing to leave but an old mother, and a daughter unmarried, bequeathed them to the other two, who were in better circumftances; with an exprefs defire that one might cherish the ancient parent, and the other portion the young woman, whom he was to fee profperously married; or, if he lived not to dif charge that agreeable office, the first was to have the pleasure of performing it. Bequests fo extraordinary, failed not to draw fufficient ridicule on the teftator, from vulgar minds; but the heirs accepted them with much contentment. However, he who received the young woman having died fome years after, the only furviving Friend took her under his care, and in a fhort time difpofed of her in wedlock, the fame day with an only daughter of his own, fettling upon her an equal share of his fortune. Here, it will be allowed, was an il

luftrious difplay of Friendship on all fides: but to me, the sentiment of him who made the will appears the most glorious, as manifefting the most exquifite fenfe of the claims which belong to that elevated relation, and the moft obliging reliance on the worth of the executors. Their generous hearts he measured by the noble feelings of his own, which told him, that, if the fituations had been reverfed, he would have been happy to undertake and fulfil the charge he now gave. But to return to our Saviour:

Who has not heard of his frequent and familiar vifits to the family of Lazarus, of his fingular attestation to the piety of Mary, of his friendly admonition to the anxious Martha, and of the tender fympathy he showed for both at the grave of their excellent brother, whom he literally terms their and his Friend? But why the difcriminating affection we speak of is not inculcated by any precept of the

Gospel, has been very naturally accounted for on principles in which all are agreed. How fhould that be made the object of a command, which is purely a matter of free choice, and fo delicate in its nature as to render the meeting with those who are qualified for it, altogether uncertain? The inftitution of Chrift was defigned to enlarge the hearts of men beyond that contracted policy of states, and those partial regards for individuals, which had warped and engroffed them; to inspire univerfal benevolence, and establish among mankind a general brotherhood, to which the peculiar and appropriated alliance under confideration is, if not duly balanced, in fome danger of proving unfavourable. But ftill wherever the charitable and comprehenfive virtues, implanted and propagated by our Holy Faith, have taken the deepest root, there the best Friendships will not fail, if other circumftances concur, to be cultivated with the greatest advantage. Of the pri

mitive believers, into whofe bofoms the Spirit of their Mafter had defcended with full force, we are exprefly told, that "they were of one heart, and of one "foul; neither faid any of them that "aught of the things which he poffeffed "were his own, but they had all things "common." Perhaps it would be difficult to describe the power and empire of Friendship in stronger words.

If you look into the hiftory and writings of St. Paul, in whom the gentle and the heroic affections which adorned the Author of our Religion, appear to have been eminently united, you cannot but observe that he breathed the very flame of Friendfhip for those who were his more immediate affociates and auxiliaries in the cause he had espoused. And then, if you look back into the Old Teftament, of which the moral tendency co-incides perfectly with that of the New, you will find this high relation both exemplified

and celebrated with the utmost beauty, as we remarked on a former occafion.

But, alas! whilft we reflect on these things, we cannot but feel fome discouragement in recommending a connexion which is now fo feldom beheld in its primeval fplendour, and of which the present felfish and inglorious system of diffipation and luxury leaves us fo little room to hope that it can now be often realized in its full extent. Do ye, however, wish to poffefs the fureft means of mitigating your misfortunes, of relieving your anxieties, of folving your doubts, of doubling and exalting your pleasures; of difentangling, multiplying, and brightening your ideas; of regulating, and maturing your judgements and imaginations; of being admonifhed with good-nature when you are wrong, and animated when you are right with generous praife; of obtaining faithful advice when you want it moft, without fuperior airs of wisdom,-kind attention.