Worth of Friendship by Jeremy Taylor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 1, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 43.

Worth of Friendship

By Jeremy Taylor

THE more we love, the better we are; and the greater our friendships are, the dearer we are to God. Let them be as dear, and let them be as perfect, and let them be as many as you can; there is no danger in it; only where the restraint begins, there begins our imperfection. It is not ill that you entertain brave friendships and worthy societies; it were well if you could benefit all mankind; for I conceive that is the sum of all friendship.

A good man is the best friend, and therefore soonest to be chosen, longer to be retained, and, indeed, never to be parted with unless he cease to be that for which he was chosen. For a good man is a profitable, useful person, and that is the band of an effective friendship. For I do not think that friendships are metaphysical nothings, created for contemplation, or that men or women should stare upon each other's faces and make dialogs of news and prettinesses, and look babies in one another's eyes.

Friendship is the allay of our sorrows, the ease of our passions, the discharge of our oppressions, the sanctuary to our calamities, the counselor of our doubts, the charity of our minds, the mission of our thoughts, the exercise and improvement of what we meditate. He only is fit to be chosen for a friend who can give counsel, or defend my cause, or guide me right, or relieve my need, or can and will, when I need it, do me good. To love such a person and to contract such friendships is just so authorized by the principles of Christianity as it is warranted to love wisdom and virtue, goodness and beneficence, and all the impresses of God upon the spirits of brave men.—Jeremy Taylor.