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

And the first of them is Prudence, or Discretion. It is said, Psal. 112. 5. A good Man showeth Favour, and lendeth; he will guide his Affairs with Discretion, (or Judgment). Now this Prudence is an Habit of the Mind, enabling a good Man to dispose of his outward Affairs, in the most commodious manner. It is not that carnal Subtlety, which teaches a Man to get an Estate by hook or crook; but that godly Wisdom, which is consistent with a good Conscience. When the Apostle, James 3. 17. mentions the Wisdom which is from above; he plainly implies that there is a Wisdom which is from below. And as the former is the Gift of God, who gives it liberally to those that ask it, as Solomon did; so the latter is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Subtlety is nothing else but Wisdom degenerate; and Prudence is only Subtlety strained and purged from all Injustice.

ANd the first of them is Prudence, or Discretion. It is said, Psal. 112. 5. A good Man sheweth Favour, and lendeth; he will guide his Affairs with Discretion, (or Judgment). Now this Prudence is an Habit of the Mind, inabling a good Man to dispose of his outward Affairs, in the most commodious manner. It is not that carnal Subtilty, which teaches a Man to get an Estate by hook or crook; but that godly Wisdom, which is consistent with a good Conscience. When the Apostle, James 3. 17. mentions the Wisdom which is from above; he plainly implies that there is a Wisdom which is from below. And as the former is the Gift of God, who gives it liberally to those that ask it, as Solomon did; so the latter is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Subtilty is nothing else but Wisdom degenerate; and Prudence is only Subtilty strain'd and purg'd from all Injustice.

Now true Prudence and Piety were always very good Friends. He, that was Innocency it self, commended a Serpent's Eye in a Dove's Head: