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

3. This Prudence must be showed, in due Deliberation about the Affairs of your Trade. For it is certain, that many Men, otherwise very ingenious, are ruined by their Rashness, not duly considering with themselves, nor consulting others in their Negotiations: And some also lose their Opportunity by too much lingering and suspending their Determinations; and therefore I propound only due Deliberation, that you be neither too swift nor too slow therein, but proportionable to the weight of the Affair, to its Difficulty, and the Limits the Business will allow. And herein, since Deliberation is only of the fittest means to attain your Profit or Content in such or such a case, I earnestly exhort you to refuse whatever your Fancy proposes, that is not honest, just, and fair. For nothing is truly profitable, that is not honest. In these cases, consult right Reason, consult the Scripture, consult that Golden Rule, Do as ye would be done by, and then you cannot resolve amiss. But if the case will admit it, take a Night's time to deliberate; for that which is weighed over Night, and reviewed ⟨p. 59⟩in the Morning, will be in some measure, ripe for a judicious Resolution. I speak all this while concerning matters of some moment: as for lesser matters; we take it for granted, that our Tradesman is furnished with those Parts which are sufficient for the speedy dispatch thereof. However, in all your Words and Actions, I advise a circumspect Slowness, rather than too quick a Speed; which is usually followed with Repentance. Let every Man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to Wrath; James 1. 19.

3. This Prudence must be shewed, in due Deliberation about the Affairs of your Trade. For it is certain, that many Men, otherwise very ingenious, are ruin'd by their Rashness, not duly considering with themselves, nor consulting others in their Negotiations: And some also lose their Opportunity by too much lingring and suspending their Determinations; and therefore I propound only due Deliberation, that you be neither too swift nor too slow therein, but proportionable to the weight of the Affair, to its Difficulty, and the Limits the Business will allow. And herein, since Deliberation is only of the fittest means to attain your Profit or Content in such or such a case, I earnestly exhort you to refuse whatever your Fancy proposes, that is not honest, just, and fair. For nothing is truly profitable, that is not honest. In these cases, consult right Reason, consult the Scripture, consult that Golden Rule, Do as ye would be done by, and then you cannot resolve amiss. But if the case will admit it, take a Night's time to deliberate; for that which is weighed over Night, and reviewed