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

1. Of the great Indiscretion of many even Godly and well-meaning Tradesmen, that do greatly Err in some or other of the foresaid Cases. It's true, this fault is not so criminal as many others; for you'll say, no Man can have more Wit or Prudence than God hath given him; every Man is not born a Philosopher. But I say, many Men might have more Wisdom, than they had at first; they might have improved their single Talent, and made it double: For as there is Wisdom infused, so there is Wisdom acquired by means which God hath appointed; and for the want hereof, he may justly punish you in this World, however ye may escape in the next. Hence proceed the ruins of so many Families; the Man, ⟨p. 74⟩his Wife and Children brought to beggary. Here lies one in Jail for Suretyship, another for haunting ill Company, yonder's one sent to Jamaica by living above his Ability, another for want of keeping and casting up his Books, some for trusting, others for trading too high. All which might have been prevented, if Men would either get more Prudence of their own, or consult and be ruled by their wiser Friends. O that the Shipwreck of others might be as marks to the rest! That these Pillars of Salt might season all other Tradesmen to the End of the World!

1. Of the great Indiscretion of many even Godly and well-meaning Tradesmen, that do greatly Err in some or other of the foresaid Cases. It's true, this fault is not so criminal as many others; for you'l say, no Man can have more Wit or Prudence than God hath given him; every Man is not born a Philosopher. But I say, many Men might have more Wisdom, than they had at first; they might have improv'd their single Talent, and made it double: For as there is Wisdom infus'd, so there is Wisdom acquir'd by means which God hath appointed; and for the want hereof, he may justly punish you in this World, however ye may escape in the next. Hence proceed the ruines of so many Families; the Man, ⟨p. 74⟩his Wife and Children brought to beggery. Here lies one in Jail for Suretiship, another for haunting ill Company, yonder's one sent to Jamaica by living above his Ability, another for want of keeping and casting up his Books, some for trusting, others for trading too high. All which might have been prevented, if Men would either get more Prudence of their own, or consult and be ruled by their wiser Friends. O that the Shipwrack of others might be as marks to the rest! That these Pillars of Salt might season all other Tradesmen to the End of the World!