The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-02-12
CHRISTIAN ENpEAvoR.
Topic For the Week Beginning Feb
14-Comment by Rev. s. H. Doyle.

Topic.-W hat Will real friendship Go?-
/ Sam. XXX, 1-23.
The Bible has been criticised by a
certain class of writer's on the ground
that it has practically nothing to say
upon the subject of friendship, most
important human relationship. Plato.
Bacon, Emerson and other great writ
ers have eulogiZed friendship, say the
critics, but not the Bible. 1t has en-
phasized the duties of men to God, of
husbands to wives and vice versa, of
parents to children and children to
parents, it is said, but is silent upon
the subject of friendship But this
charge, like all the others against the
Bible, is untrue. The Bible has much
to say upon this important subject and
has given us illustrations of it that
surpass those found in what we call
secular history. If one should collect
the Scriptural references to friendship,
especially in the writings of Solomon
and of Christ, he would find that the
Bible is not wanting in something to
say upon this subject. And what in
history surpasses the friendship of
Christ and His disciples and of David
and Jonathan?
The friendship of David and Jona-
than was one of the most beautiful IL
Illustrations of friendship that the world
has ever seen. Saul, the father of
Jonathan, was king of Israel, and
Jonathan should have succeeded his
father upon the throne of Israel. But
this he knew was not to be, and, al
though he knew that David was to
have what he should have had, yet his
friendship for David never faltered, but
in covenant and in deed was ever man
ifested. What eulogy more beautiful
than that of David when he said after
the death of Jonathan: II am distressed
for thee, my brother Jonathan. Very
pleasant hast thou been unto me. Thy
love to me was wonderful, passing the
love of women
From the friendship of David and
Jonathan we may learn:
1. Friendship is confiding. David,
fearing that Saul was seeking his life,
came to Jonathan and freely told him
of all his fears Real friends confide in
each other. "No receipt" says Bacon,
"opens the heart but a true friend, to
whom you may impart griefs, joys
fears, hopes, suspicious, counsel and
whatsoever lieth upon the heart to OPP
press it in a kind of civil shrift or con-
fession. 1t redoubles joys and cutteth
griefs in halves"
2. Friendship is reproving. When
David declared that Saul sought his
life, Jonathan rebuked him, even say
ing directly, ut is not So" But this
did not break their friendship. Real
friends may reprove each other. Faith
full are the wounds of a friend,' saith
the wise man. And who can doubt it?
He who doubts the reproof of a friend
doubts his friendship, for prerogatiye
of friendship-real friendships the
privilege of reproving for the good of
his friend
g. Friendship is helpful Though
Jonathan doubted David's fears, yet
he said, Whatsoever thy soul desireth
will even do it for thee" And he did
what David desired him to do. Friends
help each other in the hour of need. "a
friend in need is a friend indeed"
4. Friendship is lasting. Jonathan
was true to his friendship for David
until the end of his life, and when
Jonathan had passed away David cried
in sorrow, II am distressed for thee
my brother Jonathan"
The friend of friends, the one above
all others, the "friend that sticketh
closer tn:n brother" is the Lord
Jesus Christ. Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends" This Christ
has done for us. Human friendships
are precious and desirable, but nothing
else can replace the friendship of Christ.
One there is above all others
Well deserves the name of friend;
His is love beyond all others,
Costly, free and knows no end.
BIBLE READINGS.
l Sam. XVIII l. II Sam. /, 1927; Prov.
xvii, II; xviii, "a; xvii 6; x, II; Luke
xi, Ito; xii, 4, 5; John XIV, 1916; Jas.
ii, %; III John IA.