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

8. This Discretion is showed in a prudent Consideration of the Contingencies belonging to your Calling. These are of great variety, and the Particulars fall under the Observation of every Tradesman in his way. Now a prudent Man in all those Cases, considers what may fall out in this or that Country, this and the other Commodity, upon the return of such and such Ships, and what degrees of Probability there be of its coming to pass; and accordingly, disposes his Affairs to the best honest Advantage he can. In this sense also that is true Prov. 14. 15. The Simple believeth every Word, but the Prudent Man looketh well to his going. As a Mariner, the greater guess he hath of the turning or rising of the Winds, or of the approach of a Storm, the wiser he is, and he puts forth a greater or lesser Sail accordingly; so the discreet Tradesman, by the right use of his Reason, and of his Experience, and Observation, should carefully consider what Events may fall out, and what Effects they may produce, and thereupon either spread or draw in his Sails in his Trade and Calling. If there were in every Trade, a certain and constant Method and Consequence of Events, a small degree of Sagacity would serve the turn; but with many Callings it is otherwise; and there is requisite some depth of Judgment and Experience, whereby to make the best Conclusions in point of Practice. And tho he know not what God will do, yet he studies to know what he ought to do; and reckons it better for him to know his present Duty, ⟨p. 67⟩than all the future Events in the World: The Issue of things belongs to God, and what is not within our Power, should be out of our Care. If the way he took, prove the worst, instead of fretting at his Disappointment, he adores and submits to the Providence of God; and concludes there were some secret Reasons in the Divine Wisdom to blast his Expectations for his spiritual Good; he grows not sullen upon't, but buckles to his Business again; and resolves, that God may still do what he will, and I will still do what I ought.

8. This Discretion is shewed in a prudent Consideration of the Contingencies belonging to your Calling. These are of great variety, and the Particulars fall under the Observation of every Tradesman in his way. Now a prudent Man in all those Cases, considers what may fall out in this or that Country, this and the other Commodity, upon the return of such and such Ships, and what degrees of Probability there be of its coming to pass; and accordingly, disposes his Affairs to the best honest Advantage he can. In this sense also that is true