71 Excellent Counsel

Excellent Counsel Friendship sweetens life. Who does not desire to have a friend? One in whom he can confide. One whom he can communicate, with whom he can advise. Who may not need a friend? One to consult. One to help. One to counsel. Who can live happy without a true friend? Happy without a friend! How can that be? How many are disappointed who think they have one? Acquaintances are plentiful — friends are few. One true friend in a life time — is perhaps all we may expect. In some things, the new are the best, not so in friendship; an old friend is to be most valued. This led Solomon to say, "Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father." Proverbs 27:10. This advice is sound and good, in reference to human friendship — but more so in reference to Divine. Let us look at it in this light. The Lord Jesus Has Been a Friend to Us. He gave us our being, and our well-being. He molded our bodies, and he created our souls. We are his workmanship. He made us rational, intelligent, and accountable creatures. He gave us our senses, and he ennobled us with reason. He placed us almost at the top of creation, for we were made only a little lower than the angels. But for him, we would never have blessing, or might have been among the very lowest order of his creatures. He having given us a being — has also preserved us in existence. We were — because he willed. We are — because he has sustained.

He is an old friend, for be has befriended us from our infancy until now. He was our father’s friend. Many Christians, and the children of Christian parents, can look at Jesus, and say, "He was my father’s friend." The dear old man trusted in him and found him faithful. He valued him above all beside, and ever spoke well of his name. He recommended him to me often, and even with his dying breath, he said, "Make Jesus your friend." He is now happy with Jesus. Yes, I doubt not, I cannot doubt — but must believe, that my sainted father is now with Jesus — enjoying a Heaven in his love.

Jesus has all the qualifications necessary to form a true and faithful friend; the very friend you want. His wisdom is infinite, for in him dwells all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He can advise, counsel, and instruct us. His kindness is exquisite. His heart is unspeakably tender, and his love is strong as death; and such love, flowing through such a heart, must be inconceivably kind. His wealth surpasses knowledge. The Heavens, even the Heavens are the Lord’s. All creation is his, with power to create whatever he pleases. He is a constant friend — he never changes. Once our friend, he is our friend forever.

Oh, how blessed to know Jesus as our friend. Happy is the man whose heart firmly trusts in him, and makes, under all circumstances, a friend of him! Is Jesus your friend, reader? Do you know him as such? Do you confide in him as such? Do you love him as such? Do you cleave to him as such?

"Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father." This is Admirable Counsel. Jesus asks our confidence. He offers his friendship. He deserves our supreme regard. He may be, he is, misrepresented by many. You may mistake his character, neglect his offered kindness, be tempted to refuse his love, or become shy and distant with him. But, forsake him not. Rather, daily invite him to your bosom — trust him with all your secrets — consult him in all your difficulties — visit him often in his house, and on his throne — value him, and his friendship, as he deserves — vindicate him, and his cause, whenever necessary — make him your friend in youth — cleave to him all through life if you have — and anticipate the enjoyment of his friendship forever.

Let my young friends hear and attend to the admonition of wisdom, secure the friendship of Jesus. Live upon terms of closest intimacy with Jesus. Cleave to him, for he is your life. Pay deference to your godly parents, and make your father’s friend, your own. Be not like Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who was led away by the advice of the young men, to his destruction; but as Solomon cultivated the friendship of Hiram, his father David’s friend — so do you cultivate the friendship of Jesus, your father’s friend. Be wise in your choice of a friend, many have made a mistake, have suffered for it, and have repented too late; but no one ever repented of choosing Jesus for a friend, though thousands have repented that they neglected to do so. Let no one draw or drive you from his house. Here you were brought early, by those who loved you best. Here your father found a home, and here your mother felt truly happy. Follow their excellent example. Tread in their steps — and you are safe.

Let your father’s friend, your mother’s friend, be your friend — and you will be prepared for whatever may happen. Jesus, is a friend that loves at all times. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. The religion of Christ, is friendship spiritualized. Being reconciled to God, enjoying peace with God, and walking with God; we participate with Jesus in his highest, sweetest love, and share in all the blessings of grace and glory. We are called into the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we have fellowship with the Father, and with his beloved Son, enjoying also the communion of the Holy Spirit. And in this fellowship, in this communion, is the proof of the Divine friendship. Oh the honor that is bestowed on us, that we should be called, The Friends of God.