Tully's three books of offices, in English with notes explaining the method and meaning of the author.

CHAP. XVII.

Several other Degrees of Relation, less extensive than that mention'd in the former Chapter. That of Friendship the most closely knit. The Ground and Foundation of true Friendship. The Relation ari∣sing from doing Kindnesses to one another. The Love a Man has for his Native Country swallows up all other Loves whatever. Which of the several Re∣latives we ought to prefer, in our Liberality and doing Kindnesses. A Description of Friendship; and of all Friendships, which is most pleasant.

a 1.1 BUt there are several Degrees of Society and Fellowship amongst Mankind; for to take now our leave of that general and universal one already mention'd, there's a nearer among those who are all of the same Country, Nation or Lan∣guage; than which, nothing more knits and u∣nites Men to one another. There is a closer yet among those, who are all of the same City; for a great many things are in common to Fel∣low-citizens, such as Markets, Temples, Walks, Ways, Laws, Privileges, Courts of Justice, Freedom of Votes, besides common Meetings and Familia∣rities, and abundance of Business and Entercourse

with one another. But there's a stricter Bond of Alliance still, between those who belong to the same Family, as taking into it but a very small part of that vast and immense one of all Mankind. For there being by Nature implanted in all things a certain Desire of Begetting their Like, the clo∣sest and nearest of all Societies is between Man and Wife; then follows that between them and their Children▪ and afterwards that of the whole Family, who inhabit together, and have all things in common; which is, as it were, the first beginning of a City, and Ground or Seed-plot of a whole Common∣wealth. Next to this comes the Bond of Relation between Brothers; as also between first and second Cosins; who growing too numerous to live in the same House, are sent out to others, as it were into new Colonies. Next after this follow Marriages and Alliances, and so a new Stock of Relations that way; from whence comes a new Propagation and Off-spring, which serves to give rise, as was said, to Commonwealths. Now that nearness of Blood, and the natural Love which arises from it, can't but endear Men to one another, is past all doubt; 'tis a very great matter to have the same b 1.2 Relicks and Monuments of our Ancestors; to make use of the same c 1.3 religious Ceremonies, and be laid after death in the same place of Burial: But of all the Societies and Unions amongst Men, there is none more excel∣lent or more closely knit, than when such as are Men

of real Virtue and Honesty, from a certain agreement and likeness of their Manners, contract a Familia∣rity and Friendship one with another. For Virtue and Goodness (as we often observe) of necessity moves us where-ever we see it; and makes us all have a Love and Respect for that Person, in whom we discover it. And as every Virtue thus wins upon our Hearts, and even forces us to Love those we take to possess it; so more especially do Justice and Beneficence. But when d 1.4 several Persons are all like one another in Honesty and good Manners, then no Society can ever be more loving, or more closely united. For where there are many of the same Humour, and same Inclinations; every one sees, in some measure, his own self, and is accordingly de∣lighted, in the Person of another; and that's brought about, which Pythagoras thought the Perfection of all Friendship, That a great many Severals are made into One. There's another remarkable Fellowship or Community, arising from an Entercourse of do∣ing and receiving Benefits; which while 'tis kept up by a mutual Gratitude and Kindness of all the Par∣ties, can't but occasion a firm and very lasting A∣greement between 'em. But when we have gone over all the Relations that are in the World, and thro'ly consider'd the Nature of each, we shall find that there's no one of greater Obligation, no one that's dearer and nearer to us, than that which we

all of us bear to the Publick. We have a tender Concern and Regard for our Parents, for our Chil∣dren, our Kindred and Acquaintance; but the Love which we have for our Native Country swal∣lows up all other Loves whatever; for which there is no honest Man but would Die, if by his Death he could do it any necessary Service. How detest∣able e 1.5 then must the Wickedness and Barbarity of those People be, who have mangled and rent this their Native Country by all manner of Villanies; and f 1.6 have made it their Business (nay, and g 1.7 still do so) to bring it to Ruine and utter Desolation? h 1.8 Now if there should happen any Contest or Com∣petition between these Relations, which of 'em should have the greatest share of our Duty; we should pay the first Regard to our i 1.9 Country and Parents, from whom we have receiv'd the most endearing Obligations; the next to our Children and Family, who all have their Eyes upon us alone, and have no Body else they can depend upon; next in order to these come our Kindred and Relations, whose Fortune is generally the same with our own. To each of these therefore, whom I have just now men∣tion'd, we most of all owe what is necessary for

their subsistence: But then, as for Living and Eat∣ing together, for mutual Advising, Discourse, Ex∣hortation, Comforting, and sometimes (if occasion serves) k 1.10 Rebuking, Friendship is the properest Soil for them; and of all kinds of Friendship, there is none so pleasant, as that which is cemented by a Likeness of Manners.

Notes

• a 1.1

  He now proceeds to reckon up the several Degrees of Nearness or Relation among Men; that so we may know to whom we are oblig'd to be most Liberal, upon this last account of Merit, viz. Nearness of Relation.
• b 1.2

  The Images, &c. of their Ancestors, which were kept for the Honour of all the Family, into how many Branches soever divided.
• c 1.3

  Private Sacrifices or Ceremonies belonging to such or such Families in particular, which the Publick in general was no ways concern'd in: Cui praeter cognatos & affines nemo inter∣ponebatur, says Valer. Max. Book 2. ch. 1. And Livy speaks of a Statum Genti Fabiae Sacrificium, a solemn Sacrifice be∣longing to the Fabian Family, Book 5. ch. 46.
• d 1.4

  Every Man has a Kindness for himself, and is in some measure pleas'd with his own Qualities and Way of Living; when therefore he sees another with the same Qualities, and that follows after the same Way of Life, he presently con∣ceives him as it were another self, and is accordingly pleas'd with him too; which seems to be the Reason why Like (as we say) loves to join with Like. When several therefore have the same Virtues and Perfections in 'em, every one is pleas'd with all the rest, as with himself, and they all become (as it were) one and the same Person, which is what Pythago∣ras thought the Perfection of Friendship. See Aristot. Eth. Nichom. Book 8. ch. 4. from which this seems to have been ta∣ken.
• e 1.5

  For the greater Obligation they had to their Country, the greater their Wickedness was in Destroying it.
• f 1.6

  He means Julius Caesar.
• g 1.7

  Marck Anthony and his Adherents.
• h 1.8

  Having thus laid down the several Relations, that we have in the World, he proceeds to shew how we should car∣ry our selves in 'em; by giving the Preference to our Coun∣try, &c.
• i 1.9

  Before even our Parents; for the Welfare of these is con∣tain'd in, and depends upon that of our Country; which should it be ruin'd, our Parents and every thing else must of course follow after it.
• k 1.10

  Solomon therefore incomparably well, Prov. 27. v. 6. calls Rebukes, The Wounds of a Friend; which he says are faith∣ful; while the Kisses of an Enemy are full of deceit.