A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 41
CHAP. XLI. Examples of Friendship.
A True friend is as a mans own soul, Deut. 13. 6. Loves at all times, Prov. 17. 17. Sticks closer then a brother, Prov. 18. 24. gives hearty counsel, Prov. 27. 9.
Exhorted to, Prov. 27. 10.
Their wounds are faithful, Prov. 27. 6.
The rich have many friends, Prov. 14. 20. and 1…. 4, 6.
Scriptural Examples: Hushai, 2 Sam. 15. 32, 37. Jonathan, 1 Sam. 18. 1. and 20. 17. Others, 1 Sam. 3. 26. Hiram, 1 King. 5. 1. Peter, Mat. 26. 33. Jobs friends, ch. 2. 11. Ittai, 2 Sam. 15. 21. Ruth, ch. 1. 16, 17. Pauls friends, Acts 19. 31. Iohns friends, 3 John 14.
Feigned friends, Dan. 11. 26. Psal. 55. 13, 14. & 41. 9. & 88. 19. Joab, 2 Sam. 3. 27, & 20. 9, 10. Hushai, 2 Sam. 16. 17, 18. Such, Jer. 9. 4. Mich. 7. 8. Judas▪ Ioh. 13. 18. Mat. 26. 49. Pilate, and Herod, Luke 23. 12. Churches friends, Lam. 1. 2. Poor mans friends, Prov. 19. 7. Such as love for advantage, Prov. 14. 20. & 19. 4, 6.
Carnal friends: Hiram to Judah, Gen. 38. 12, 20. Sampsons friends, Jud. 14. 20, Amons, 2 Sam. 13. 3. Hamans, Ester 5. 10. Zedekiahs, Ier. 38. 22. Ahuzzah, Gen. 26. 26. Such are not to be trusted, Mich. 7. 5.
Other Examples: Cambyses, King of Persia making Warre against the Egyptians, overthrew them in a great battel, and took the regal City Memphis, and therein the King Psammenitus, and all his family, and Nobles, after which he kept him prisoner in the suburbs, and then caused the daughters of the Nobles, and amongst them Psammenitus daughter clad in base apparel to fetch water in tankards from the river: which when their parents saw, they all brake forth into grievous weeping, only Psammenitus with his eyes fixed upon the ground shewed no signe of sorrow. Then did Cambyses cause the Noble-mens sonnes, and amongst them Psammenitus his sonne to be led to execution tied together by the necks with ropes, and bridles put into their mouths: hereupon their fathers again brake forth into lamentations, only Psammenitus stood quiet as before: But presently after seeing an old man his intimate friend begging in the streets, he brake forth into grievous lamentations, which Cambyses observing, sent to him to know what was the reason that he when he saw his daughter so abused, and his son led to death mourned not: but now when he saw this poor man that was no kin to him begging he made such heavy mone? To whom Psammenitus answered, My domestick evils were greater then that I could expresse my sorrow for them: but the calamity of my friend deserves my teares; for that now in his old age from an high estate he is brought to such extreame poverty. Herod.
Darius having escaped a great danger in his returne out of Scythia by the faithful counsel and assistance of Histiaeus the Milesian, he sent for him to his Court, and made him one of his privy Councel, saying: Omnium possessionum pretiosissimam esse, amicum fide, & prudenti… praestantem: That of all possessions the most precious, is a friend excelling in fidelity, and prudence. Pez. Mel. Hist.
Cyrus Junior was of that friendly disposition that of those many gifts that were presented to him by his Subjects, he reserved none to himself, but distributed them amongst his friends according to their several qualities; and when he had choice apparel sent him, he used to say, that his own body could not weare it, but he thought himself richly adorned in seeing his friends adorned with it: When he had excellent wine, he would send his friends most of it, saying, that he beleeved that they could not get better: When he had costly cates at his table, he would send them a great part with this message: Tell them that Cyrus sends you these things, because himself liked them exceeding well. Xenophon.
Agesilaus King of Sparta seeing divers of his friends, and kindred in poverty, and want; he divided halfe his patrimony amongst them, esteeming his inheritance to be left him, rather thereby to purchase friends then to make himself an object of envy to his enemies. Xenophon.
Damon, and Pythias, two Pithagorean Phylosophers so intirely loved each other, that Dionysius the Tyrant having condemned one of them to death, the other offered to die for him: wherewith the Tyrant was so affected, that he pardoned the condemned party, and desired to be admitted a third person in their amity. Cicero de. Offi.
In Queen Elizabeths Reigne in a fight between the Earle of Kildare and the Earl of Tir-o…en, two of the Earl of Kildares Foster brethren were slain, whose death he took so heavily, that himself shortly after died for grief: For there is no love in the world comparable by many degrees to that of Foster-brethren in Ireland. Camb. Brit. I…el. p. 116.
Darius having opened a Pomegranate that was full of seeds, his brother Artabanus asked him of what things he would chiefly desire so great a number? Darius answered, that he would desire so many Magabysuses as there were graines in that fruit; for, …aith he, Kings can have no treasure of so great worth as faithful friends. Herod.
Under the seventh Persecution Theodora, a godly Virgin, for her Religion was condemned to the Stews, where her chastity was to be a prey to all commers: which sentence being executed, many wanton young men were ready to presse into the house▪ but one of the brethren called Didymus putting on a souldiers habit would have the first turne, and to going in per…waded her to change garments with him, and so she in the souldiers habit escaped: and Didymus being found a man, was carried before the President, to whom he confessed the whole matter, and so was condemned. Theodora hearing of it, thinking to excuse him, came, and presented herself as the guilty party, desiring that she might die, and the other be excused; but the mercilesse Iudge caused them both to be put to death. See my Gen. Martyr. p. 52.
Thine own friend, and thy fathers friend forsake not.
Prov. 27. 10.