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

7. This Prudence is to be exercised, In Governing those Passions to which you are most liable in your Calling. Philosophers place much of the business of Prudence herein. Passions are natural to us, and inseparable from us; the Government of them is the Work of Prudence, the mortifying of their Extravagances is the Work of saving Grace. To be a Slave to them, is a Misery below a Galley-Slave. It was said by Abimelech, Whether is better for you, that threescore and ten Persons reign over you, or that one reign over you? Judg. 9. 2. Surely it is far better, sweeter, easier to be under the ⟨p. 64⟩Sovereignty of one good God, than under the Dominion of numberless and tyrannical Passions. The Tradesman is in danger of this Bondage, but Christian Discretion will curb them. He is tempted to Discontent with the Providence of God; the Wind doth not favour his Merchandise; the Weather hinders his Manufacture. He is in danger of Envy at the thriving of others, when he sees that they have more Custom or Credit than himself. He is apt to be tossed with the Passions of Hope and Fear: And your Prudence will preserve your minds steady above all groundless Fears and Hopes. For when a Man hath with his utmost Skill proceeded so and so in his lawful Calling, he should never torment himself with unnecessary and unprofitable Fears of the Event, either of that Affair in particular, or of his Welfare in general: No, you are in your Way, you have the Providence and Promise of a wise and good God engaged with you: Your Fears will not prevent your Disasters, but rather provoke God to inflict them: And the Passion of Fear was seated in Man's Heart only to prevent Evils, not to increase them: and therefore, as it is a very great Folly to entertain or cherish them about Contingencies, when we have done our best; so it is the Triumph of Wisdom to check and extinguish them. The like also of groundless Hopes: For many a Tradesman is ruined by his vain Hopes. He hath some great Hit in prospect, some rich Uncle whose Estate he expects. Some remote and unaccountable Wind-fall or other, and in Contemplation hereof, neglects his proper Affairs, lives above his present Estate; and tho he ⟨p. 65⟩feel his Decay and Wasting, yet buoys up his Spirits with these vain Hopes till he fall irrecoverably. Just like a formal Hypocrite, whose Hope shall be cut off, and whose Trust shall be a Spider's Web;