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

9. This Prudence of the Tradesman stands, in Avoiding those Courses that have ruined others. Cast your Eyes abroad, and you may easily discern the Rocks that others have dashed upon, the Quicksands wherein others have been swallowed, and true Wisdom will teach you to shun them with your utmost Care. I will instance in some few.

9. This Prudence of the Tradesman stands, in Avoiding those Courses that have ruin'd others. Cast your Eyes abroad, and you may easily discern the Rocks that others have dash'd upon, the Quicksands wherein others have been swallowed, and true Wisdom will teach you to shun them with your utmost Care. I will instance in some few.

(1▪) Bad Company. I mean such as are infected in their Morals, that are accustomed to Swearing, Lying, Sabbath-breaking, Quarrelling, Uncleanness, Knavery, or such like Vices. From such, Prov. 2. 11. Discretion shall preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil Man, &c. Such there are in all Towns and Cities, that drive a Trade of Destroying themselves, and as many others as they can. Now if there were no such thing as Religion, yet common Prudence should teach you to avoid these, as you would Persons with the Plague; yea, tho you should be linked to some of them by the Tie of Trading, Kindred, Cohabitation, Country, or former Custom: for as none ⟨p. 68⟩of these can justify your consorting with them; so none of these Considerations can balance the Ruin and Misery which such Company will bring upon you. It is almost impossible to converse with them, without becoming like them. What Credit, what Profit, what Comfort can you get by such Society? Wherein doth their Company make you wiser, or better? Why, but it pleases us Doth it indeed please you? That shows your Nature is corrupt, your Palate is viciated: But were it not better not to itch at all, than to be pleased with scratching? What Scripture do you profess and live by? God's People of old, their delight was in the Saints on the Earth; they were Companions of those that feared God; and if ever you expect to live with them, you must live like them. But what speak I of living in Heaven? Such Companions will make you unfit and unable to live in the World. Destruction and Misery are in their ways. They are not only the Shame of Christianity, but the Reproach of Mankind; they are Brutes in human Shape; and will none serve you for Companions but these? Are you fond of a Prison or an Hospital, or of the Plantations, or of Tyburn? for to some of these, such Company send their Comrades. And therefore for God's sake, yea, for your own sake, cast in no Let among them, let your early Prudence prevent your late Repentance.