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

5. This Discretion is shown, in Ordering a man's Expenses suitable to his Calling. That as he should not live sordidly much below his Estate, nor be defective in his Allowance either to God, to the ⟨p. 61⟩Poor, or to himself; so he may not, either in his Provision, in his Furniture, in his Apparel, or in his By-expenses and Entertainments, exceed that Proportion which his Trade will maintain. And therefore every prudent Man doth calculate as near as he can, what his ordinary Income is, and thereby adjusts his Expenses. The Indiscretion or plain Folly of many is evident-herein; so that, without the Spirit of Prophecy, one may easily foretell their Ruin. Some such Slaves to their Appetites, that the Belly doth immediately devour what their Head or Hands do get, never providing for a time of Sickness or other extraordinary Casualty. Other furnishing their Houses above the Standard of their Quality, while their Shops or Purses want Furniture, and it may be some of their Creditors, or Workmen their just Dues. Others, if not in their own Persons, yet in their Wives and Children, proclaiming their Pride and Folly, in being apparelled above their Condition or Ability, which is an undeniable Token of Pride lodging within: For tho Pride is a Sin of the Heart, yet it shows it self in the Looks, Words, Apparel, and Behaviour of vain People; who by these exterior Additions without, do tacitly acknowledge there are some great defects within: whereas the worthy Man or Woman, so that their Garb be not ridiculous, but seemly, are no way concerned about the richness or fashionableness of their Garments. And others run out exceedingly in their By-Expenses and Entertainments; not considering, that they are only Stewards unto the great God, of whatsoever Talents are in their hands; and also Trustees for ⟨p. 62⟩their Wives and Children, and for the Poor, and that no mortal Man hath any thing of his own. Now herein Godly Wisdom comes in and puts due bounds to all these Expenses, and teaches the Tradesman to live rather somewhat below, than at all above his Income; because he considers, that it is easy to augment ones port and manner of living, but very hard to sink or abate in it; and he that begins his manner of living as his Master ended, is like to end as his Master begun.

5. This Discretion is shown, in Ordering a man's Expences sutable to his Calling. That as he should not live sordidly much below his Estate, nor be defective in his Allowance either to God, to the