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

(3.) For Persons. You had need of Prudence to discern, 1. Whom to deal with, to wit, Men of Conscience, or at least of moral Honesty; and common Fame will usually acquaint you where and who they be. For such you may rely upon with more Security, than upon others; and it is more creditable to have Correspondence with honest Men, than with Knaves. 2. Whom to trust: Here you have need of all the godly Wisdom that you can get; for Man is a deceitful Creature, and the Metal that glisters most, is not always the richest. It is with many Men, as it is with many Fowls, that look fair and large, but stripped of their Feathers, their Substance is little. As that Faith is often soundest, that is accompanied with doubting, at least with inquiring and questioning; So it is better for you to be at the Cost and Pains of a diligent Inquiry, than at the Grief and Pain of a sad Experience. It is most certain, that as it may be Prudence to trust some Persons, and Charity to trust others; so there are many, whom it is neither Wisdom nor Charity to trust at all. 3. Whom to be familiar with. Herein you have need of your discreet Prudence: For tho you must be friendly to all, yet you must be familiar but with few; and they must be those ⟨p. 58⟩that may some way do good and not hurt to you, or such as you may do some good unto. And even of these, you must not choose too many, for your Employments will not allow you time to perform those Offices to many, which are necessary in the case of Friendship. Let your Choice therefore be among those, that are of a grave and even Temper, and of greater Wisdom and Grace than your selves. For, Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise Men, shall be wise; but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed.

(3.) For Persons. You had need of Prudence to discern, 1. Whom to deal with, to wit, Men of Conscience, or at least of moral Honesty; and common Fame will usually acquaint you where and who they be. For such you may rely upon with more Security, than upon others; and it is more creditable to have Correspondence with honest Men, than with Knaves. 2. Whom to trust: Here you have need of all the godly Wisdom that you can get; for Man is a deceitful Creature, and the Metal that glisters most, is not always the richest. It is with many Men, as it is with many Fowls, that look fair and large, but stript of their Feathers, their Substanc is little. As that Faith is often soundest, that is accompanied with doubting, at least with inquiring and questioning; So it is better for you to be at the Cost and Pains of a diligent Inquiry, than at the Grief and Pain of a sad Experience. It is most certain, that as it may be Prudence to trust some Persons, and Charity to trust others; so there are many, whom it is neither Wisdom nor Charity to trust at all. 3. Whom to be familiar with. Herein you have need of your discreet Prudence: For tho you must be friendly to all, yet you must be familiar but with few; and they must be those