Proverbs 18:24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Cicero has well said, "Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed." He who would be happy here must have friends. Yet friendship has been the cause of the greatest misery to men when it has been unworthy and unfaithful. I. CHRIST IS A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. II. THE REASONS WHY WE MAY DEPEND UPON CHRIST AS BEING A FAITHFUL FRIEND. 1. True friendship can only be made between true men, whose hearts are the soul of honour. 2. Faithfulness to us in our faults is a certain sign of fidelity in a friend. 3. There are some things in His friendship which render us sure of not being deceived when we put our confidence in Him. 4. The friendship that will last does not take its rise in the chambers of mirth, nor is it fed and fattened there. 5. A friend acquired by folly is never a faithful friend. 6. Friendship and love, to be real, must not lie in words, but in deeds. 7. A purchased friend will never last long. III. AN INFERENCE TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS. Lavater says, "The qualities of your friends will be those of your enemies; cold friends, cold enemies; half friends, half enemies; fervid enemies, warm friends." Then we infer that, if Christ sticks close, and is our Friend, then our enemies will stick close, and never leave us till we die. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.WEB: A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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