Tractatus duo

CAP. III.

What true Christian friendship is.

THEREFORE, what true friendship is must be explained. In which, first, they distinguish Benevolence, which they call εὔνοιαν goodwill, from Friendship, which is named φιλία friendship by the same people. For Benevolence is when those who are absent, and who have never seen each other, love one another on account of the admiration of virtue and a gift of God, which one recognizes in the other. Thus, when Paul had not yet seen Peter, nor James, nor John, he already loved them referencing Galatians 1:18; and that was a species of love, Benevolence, because it had been contracted between those absent.

Friendship, however, requires companionship and the face and conversation of friends. Therefore, it exists only among those who either mutually converse and live, or who have already lived together for a long time. For companionship (as the proverb says) increases friendship and the agreement of souls. Now, Friendship is that species of charity and love than which none can be greater, and to which nothing can be added or joined. Therefore, it demands mutual frequenting and companionship, because from that, our benevolence and affection is accustomed to be made greater. Thus, that domestic and familiar conversation of David in the house of Saul not only gave the occasion and beginning to that friendship which was between David and Jonathan, but...