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I. THERE IS SUCH A THING, AS FRIENDSHIP AND HUMAN AFFECTION.

1. God has implanted in our nature a social principle.

2. There are certain qualifications, distinctions, and relations that give scope to this principle.

3. There have been surprising instances of friendship among mankind.

II. THE WISDOM AND GOODNESS OF PROVIDENCE IN THUS ORDERING THINGS.

1. It keeps society together.

2. The pleasures that attend its exercise.

3. It makes us in a humble degree like God.

4. It is suited to our state both in this world and another.

III. THIS FRIENDSHIP IS IMPERFECT.

1. Peculiarities of natural temper.

2. Clashing of interests.

3. Incapacity to help.

4. Want of religion.

5. Distance.

6. Short duration.Conclusion:

1. What reason to admire the Divine wisdom and goodness!

2. It is a duty we owe to our Maker and our fellow-creatures to cultivate this.

3. Let us not depend on human friendship.

(T. N. Toller.)

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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.