Tractatus duo

A decorative headpiece featuring floral and foliate motifs.

A decorative drop cap 'V' featuring human figures and foliage.THE foundation of true and Christian friendship is the admiration of virtue and some gift of God in another person: the praise and use of which looks toward God Himself, or toward men. Thus, Jonathan entered into friendship with David, whom he admired on account of his courage and heroic heart, because he had broken Goliath referencing 1 Samuel 18:1, 27, 30. Therefore, we love those who excel and are distinguished above others by some gift of true piety, or by some moral virtue, such as Justice, Fortitude, or Liberality. And this is indeed the proximate cause, which we are accustomed to look upon. However, there is a superior cause, which occurs by a silent instinct of the spirit from God, namely the mutual reconciliation of souls and the inclination and propensity of the will. For every true and holy friendship is from God, and it is founded in Him, and remains stable.