He perhaps felt this
as a reflection upon his apprehension as to death; and said, with heat,
'How can a man know WHERE his departed friends are, or whether they will
be his friends in the other world? How many friendships have you known
formed upon principles of virtue? Most friendships are formed by caprice
or by chance, mere confederacies in vice or leagues in folly.'
We talked of our worthy friend Mr. Langton. He said, 'I know not who
will go to Heaven if Langton does not. Sir, I could almost say, Sit
anima mea cum Langtono.' I mentioned a very eminent friend as a virtuous
man. JOHNSON. 'Yes, Sir; but ------ has not the evangelical virtue of
Langton. ------, I am afraid, would not scruple to pick up a wench.'
He however charged Mr. Langton with what he thought want of judgment
upon an interesting occasion. 'When I was ill, (said he,) I desired he
would tell me sincerely in what he thought my life was faulty. Sir, he
brought me a sheet of paper, on which he had written down several texts
of Scripture, recommending christian charity.
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