Mat. XVII. 1.] Christ's transfiguration. 3 II
such as may be helps to iis in godliness, and may promote our mutual good, temporal and spiritual. So did Christ, who had twelve dis- ciples, single out three of them for greatest intimacy ; and so did Peter, who, though he had eleven colleagues, and held concord with all, yet his intimate friendship was with John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. It is good to hold friendship with those who are beloved of God, and one who, by his love and lenity, might cool his heats and abate his hasty fervours, which were so natural to him.
Now, having so fair an occasion, I shall treat of spiritual friend- ship, for an heavenly, faithful friend is one of the greatest treasures upon earth. A friend is valuable in secular matters, much more a spiritual friend : Prov. xxvii. 17, ' As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend,' — that is, when he is dull his friend setteth an edge upon him.
[1.] Friendship is necessary for every one that would live in the world, because man is ^ojov ttoXltlkov, a sociable creature. Man was not made to live alone, but in company with others for mutual society and friendship ; and they that fly all company and live to and by themselves are counted inhuman : Eccles. iv. 9-1 2, ' Two are better than one, for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow ; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they have heat ; but how can one be warm if he lie alone ? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him.' Thus far Solomon. The Egyptians in their hieroglyphics expressed the unprofitableness of a solitary man by a single millstone, which alone grindeth no meal, but with its fellow is very serviceable for that purpose. The Lord appointed mankind to live in society, that they might be mutually helpful to one another. Surely God never made them to live in deserts ; the wild beasts love to go alone, but the tame in flocks and herds. The Lord doth give variety of gifts to the sons of men ; to all some, but to none all, that one might stand in need of another, and make use of one another ; and the subordination of one gift to another is the great means of upholding the world. Man is weak and insufficient to himself, and wanting the help of others, needeth society, and is inclined to it by the bent of his nature.
[2.] Though man affecteth society, yet in our company we must use choice, and the good must converse with the good, for these rea- sons : —
(1.) Partly because like doth best sort with like. Friendship is founded in suitableness and maintained by it — eadem velle et nolle, to will and nill the same things, breedeth an harmony of minds ; the godly will have special love to the godly, and they that fear God will be companions of them that fear him, Ps. cxix. 63 ; they must needs be more dear and precious to them than others, as a Avicked man easily smelleth out a fit companion for him: Ps. 1. 18, 'When thou sawest a thief, then thou consented.st with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.' Like will to like ; every man showeth his temper in his company. The fowls of heaven flock together according to their several kinds ; ye shall not see doves flocking with the ravens, nor diverse kinds intermixed. Men that delight in excess of drink choose company
342 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. I.
suitable to their brutish humour ; those that dehght in gaming choose such as make no conscience of their time, or have no care of their souls. That which every one is taken withal he loveth to do with his friends, therefore they that love God delight in those that love him, those that are most apt to stir them up to the remembrance of everlasting things and the preparation necessary : so they are of singular use to us,
(2.) If they be not like to us, intimacy and converse will make us like to them. Eveiy man is wrought upon by his company ; we imi- tate those whom we love and with whom we frequently converse : Prov. xiii. 20, ' He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destro^^ed.' As a man that walketh in the sun is tanned insensibly, so, if we are not aware, we adopt their man- ners and customs, and get a tincture from them, especially in evil; for we are more susceptible of evil than of good — as the sound get a sickness from the diseased sooner than the sick get health from the sound. Or in the types of the law : that which was clean, by touch- ing the unclean became unclean, but the unclean were not purified by touching the clean : Prov. xxii. 24, 25, ' Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go, lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.' A man would think that of all sins wrath and anger should not be propagated by converse, the motions and furies of it being so uncomely and indecent to any be- holder ; yet secretly a liking of the person breedeth a liking of the sin, and a man is habituated into such a frame of spirit as they have whom he hath chosen for his companions. Now this should be re- garded by us, because we are sooner made evil by evil company than good by good company ; therefore how careful should we be to con- verse with such as may go before us as examples of godliness, and provoke us by their strictness, heavenly-mindedness, mortification, and self-denial, to more love to God, zeal for his glory, and care of our own salvation. Especially doth this concern the young, who, by the weak- ness of their judgment or the vehemency of their affections and want of experience, may easily be drawn into a snare.