The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…

And now having discoursed of the right Entrance into a Calling, let each of us make a double Use of it.

And now having discoursed of the right Entrance into a Calling, let each of us make a double Ʋse of it.

1. By way of Reflection on time past. Did all of you that are in Callings, thus enter upon them? Were your Ends right? Were you duly qualified? Were your Resolutions firm? and your Prayers earnest? Let your Consciences return a true Verdict, a just Answer. If they acquit you; what Peace, what Joy, what Satisfaction may you have, whether you have succeeded in outward things or not? You have done your Duty, to which a Blessing always belongs. But if upon a serious Inquiry, Conscience accuse you; what cause have you to be humbled, to bewail your Neglects, and cry for Mercy and Forgiveness, and this, notwithstanding all the good Success you have had in them? For God doth sometimes give to Children outward Blessings, with respect to the Parents, or other Ancestors Integrity; which is a Seal to the Uprightness of the Parent, but not to the Goodness of the Child; Or, he may give you a great Estate and Honour in Wrath, or to pay you off for some good thing, and yet short of Grace, which may be found in you. For your own Parts, you had need to judg and condemn your selves with broken and contrite Hearts, if perhaps your Sin may be forgiven you. For, as an Oppressor, yea, a Thief may get Possession of a well-stored House, and be jovial in it, till the Judg inquire how he entered it; so may a Man obtain in his Profession a vast Estate, but at last God will examine how he entered upon it, and whether by an orderly way he took Possession of it?

1. By way of Reflection on time past. Did all of you that are in Callings, thus enter upon them? Were your Ends right? Were you duly qualified? Were your Resolutions firm? and your Prayers earnest? Let your Consciences return a true Verdict, a just Answer. If they acquit you; what Peace, what Joy, what Satisfaction may you have, whether you have succeeded in outward things or not? You have done your Duty, to which a Blessing always belongs. But if upon a serious Inquiry, Conscience accuse you; what cause have you to be humbled, to bewail your Neglects, and cry for Mercy and Forgiveness, and this, notwithstanding all the good Success you have had in them? For God doth sometimes give to Children outward Blessings, with respect to the Parents, or other Ancestors Integrity; which is a Seal to the Uprightness of the Parent, but not to the Goodness of the Child; Or, he may give you a great Estate and Honour in Wrath, or to pay you off for some good thing, and yet short of Grace, which may be found in you. For your own Parts, you had need to judg and condemn your selves with broken and contrite Hearts, if perhaps your Sin may be forgiven you. For, as an Oppressor, yea, a Thief may get Possession of a well-stor'd House, and be jovial in it, till the Judg inquire how he entred it; so may a Man obtain in his Profession a vast Estate, but at last God will examine how he entred upon it, and whether by an orderly way he took Possession of it?