204 FREEDOM, FRETFULNESS. And Freedom's watchword, Right makes might, Ed. The signs of the times, however, indicate that the world has not yet done with the war-maxim of the Gallic king, that "the rights of valiant men lie in their swords." Spring. There never has been any such thing as true freedom among those who were ignorant of the Bible. The Bible is the great protector and guardian of the liberties of men. It is the true basis, and the only basis of the temple of freedom. Where the Bible forms public opinion, a nation must be free. 1b. The whole spirit and genius of Christianity are everywhere friendly to freedom. It teaches us that men of every tribe, language, clime, and color, are the creatures of God. It announces that the great Creator "hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” It pronounces the incidental, and circumstantial, and temporary distinctions among men, as of minor consequence, and of no account whatever, when compared with the great points of similitude which result from their common origin, their common depravity, their common suffering, common dependance, and common responsibilities. Tyrants are sometimes the fathers of freedom. But they mean not so, neither do their hearts think so.' Just men, only, are free: others are slaves. [See 536.] Ed. Freedom lies essentially in the conquest of self. It is impossible for him to be free, who is a slave to his carnal will, passions, propensities, feelings, and idols, or is led captive by Satan at his will. [See 536.] 367. FRETFULNESS. Fretfulness is a kind of anger. Anger is the artillery; fretfulness the small arms. Ed. Fretfulness is always chiefly against the Lord, and is as ungrateful, impudent, and unreasonable, as uncomfortable. Ib. The way to dissipate fretfulness in the minds of children, is to be cheerful, and to keep plenty of great and good objects in view, suited to interest and entertain the juvenile mind. FRIENDS, FRIENDSHIP. 205 A fretful person is the sport of circumstances, and trifles with human feelings. 368. FRIENDS, FRIENDSHIP. Freedom and confidence are the soul of friendship. A mountain is made up of atoms, and friendship of little If the atoms hold not together, the mountain is crumbled into dust. matters. Services and kindnesses neglected, make friendship suspected. Verily is the man a marvel, whom truth can write, "A friend." A reconciled friend is a double enemy. A friend that you buy with presents, will betray you for greater ones. Short reckonings make long friends. They are the best friends who support and encourage each other most in good designs and deeds, and they the worst enemies, who support and encourage each other in sin. A true friend will sometimes be offensive. The best of men need faithful friends to instruct and admonish them, or watchful enemies to correct them. He can want nothing, who hath God for his friend. No one can be happy without a friend; and no one can know what friends he has, till he is unhappy. Bp. Hall. I will use my friends as Moses did his rod while it was a rod, he held it familiarly in his hand: when it turned to a serpent, he ran away from it. Ed. Friendship was invented for those who carry on the Christian warfare, and need sympathy and helpers. For others, temporary favoritism was designed, and is all they enjoy. Ib. Friendship between the good, is of the genus live forever. Ib. Next to the friendliness of properly telling our neighbor his fault, is that regard for the feelings of the reprover, which prompts to the correction of the error. [See 549.] 369. FRIENDSHIP'S PRUDENTIAL MAXIMS. Make no friendship with a selfish, envious, and sordid spirit, for he has no taste nor room for reciprocity. Make as many friends as possible, and as few intimates. 206 FRIENDSHIP INVALUABLE. An act by which we make one friend and one enemy, is a losing game, because revenge is a much stronger principle than gratitude. Be deliberate in choosing a friend more so in changing him. Like water from ye, never found again Do not value men according to their esteem of thee, but according to their worth and faithfulness. Ed. Cling to your friends, after having chosen them with proper caution. If they reprove you, thank them. If they grieve you, forgive them. If revolutionary circumstances have torn them from you, circumstances may change, and make them yours again. Be very slow to give up an old and tried friend. Ib. Expect to meet with manifold imperfections and failings, even in your very best earthly friends, and overlook them, lest they cool the ardor of true friendship. [See 766.] 370. FRIENDSHIP INVALUABLE. Young. Poor is the friendless master of a world. A world, in purchase for a friend, is gain. Rowe. Who knows the joys of friendship? The trust, security, and mutual tenderness, The double joys, where each is glad for both? Friendship, our only wealth, our last retreat and strength, Secure against ill-fortune and the world. Friendship multiplies joys, divides griefs, subtracts from labors, and adds to the capital of life. Those hours are not lost which are spent in cementing affection; For a friend is above gold, precious as the stores of the mind. Ed. So important, delectable, and indispensable is true friendship, we should lose no time in securing friends, especially such as can protect, as well as love us, unto the end. FRIENDS, FRIENDSHIP. 371. FRIENDS, HOW MADE. Young. Can gold gain friendship? Impudence of hope! All like the purchase; few the price will pay: 372. FRIENDSHIP, GENUINE. 207 Secker. That is a choice friend, who conceals our faults from the view of others, and discovers them to our own. A friend in need, is a friend indeed. Only the wise and good are friends; others are mere companions. True friendship. The water that flows from a spring does not congeal in the winter: and those sentiments of friendship which flow from the heart, cannot be frozen by adversity. True friendship has stronger ties than kindred. 373. FRIENDSHIP, SPURIOUS. A false friend, and a shadow, attend us only while the sun shines. No enemy like a false friend. False friendships end in mortal feuds. Bacon. Those friends are weak and worthless, that will not use the privilege of friendship, in admonishing their friends with freedom and confidence, as well of their errors, as of their danger. Sh. Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find. Every man will be thy friend, Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend ; But if store of crowns be scant, No man will supply thy want. Strict dealing may cool spurious friendship, but loose dealing often converts friends into enemies. Ed. The friendship of the world, which is enmity with God, is mere selfish, hollow, fickle, and temporary favoritism; a bubble, soon to give place to bitter and perpetual enmity and hatred. 208 FRIENDSHIP'S TESTS, FRUGALITY, FUTURITY. 374. FRIENDSHIP'S TESTS. When good cheer is lacking, false friends will be packing. Lavater. Never say you know a man, till you have divided an inheritance with him. Ed. The best test of friendship, is the kind and faithful reproof of all our manifest faults. 375. FRUGALITY. Johnson. Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty. Franklin. Spend one penny less than thy clear gains. Then shall thy hide-bound pocket begin to thrive; and will never again cry with the empty belly-ache; neither will creditors insult thee, nor want oppress, nor hunger bite, nor nakedness freeze thee. The whole hemisphere will shine brighter, and pleasure spring up in every corner of thy heart. Then shalt thou be a man, and not hide thy face at the approach of the rich, nor suffer the pain of feeling little when the sons of fortune walk at thy right hand; for independency, whether with little or much, is good fortune, and places thee on even ground with the proudest of the golden fleece. b. The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do; and with them, everything. Frugality is a fair fortune; and habits of industry, a good estate. Without frugality, none can be rich; and with it, few would be poor. Competency is the reward of frugality. [See 272.] 376. FUTURITY. The vail which covers futurity from our sight, is woven by the hand of mercy. Ed. The atheist, by his suicidal unbelief, cuts himself off from all the hopes, riches, and glory of futurity, and makes himself wretched, and miserable, and poor. and blind, and naked. Reason, conscience, and every other intellectual and moral |