Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

well, and speak comfortably, and are full of good resolutions and
professions; but a disposition to take offence so universally prevails, that
several of them take themselves off without any previous warning; and
others, after going out, linger a little at the door, and talk and look as
usual: but every day I find them progressively farther off, till at last the
distance is such that I cannot hear them, though they seem still to speak;
and in time they get entirely out of sight! Nothing remains of them in our
house but the name, with a scroll, in my own handwriting, under each:
"Whenever thou art disposed to return, thou wilt find here the same
welcome as formerly."
I can say I never formed a friendship which I broke. My list of friends
has not a blot in it; some of them, it is true, have slunk away; some seem
to have hurried off, and others stand at a great distance; but I have made
no erasure in my list, and when they choose to return, it can never appear,
by reinsertion that they have proved false to their friend, or have been
careless about him.
Multitudes complain of the treachery of friends, betraying their secrets,
&c., never considering that they themselves have been their first
betrayers, in confiding to others what they pretend to wish should be a
secret to the whole world! If a man never let his secret out of his own
bosom, it is impossible that he should ever be betrayed.
FLATTERY.
MEN who praise you to your face are ever to be suspected. The Italians
have a very expressive proverb on this subject: "He who caresses thee
more than he was wont to do, has either deceived thee, or is about to do
it." I have never known the sentiment in this proverb to fail.
SELF-INTEREST.
A MAN is to be suspected when he recommends those good works
most from which he receives most advantage. Self-interest is a most
decisive casuist, and removes abundance of scruples in a moment. It is