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

SECT. 2. Of Diligence in a Trade.

AND the second Requisite in a Trade is Diligence. About which, 1. I shall describe the Nature; 2. The Object of it: 3. Some Inducements to it. 4. Make some Application.

First; For the Nature of it. It is a Christian Virtue, disposing a Man to use his greatest Skill, Care, and Strength in his Calling. It differeth not in substance from the same moral Virtue ⟨p. 77⟩among the Heathen; but that, in a Christian there is a better Root whence it grows, and that is a sanctified Heart, a Conscience that stands in awe of God, and so causes the Man to stand in awe of it. And also he hath a higher End in his Diligence, and that is the Glory of God and the good of others, and not merely for his own credit or advantage. Whereas the industrious Pagan, as he knows not God, so he cares not for him: but self is at the beginning, self is at the middle, and self is at the end of all his Care and Pains; and the unsanctified Christian is little better, but rather worse, because he hath greater light, and yet lives not up to it. That which distinguishes it from other Virtues is, that it consists in employing all a Man's Skill, Time, Care, and Strength in a sober and moderate measure in his Calling; and so the extreme on the one hand is Idleness and Carelessness, together with a busying ones self with other Mens matters; and on the other hand, immoderate carking, and slavish drudging. Diligence walks between these extremes. Next to the saving his Soul, his care and business is to serve God in his Calling, and to drive it as far as it will go: for he knows that his strength and time are lent him for that purpose; and that whatsoever are employed otherwise, run waste. In short, the Diligent Man makes all the convenient haste he can, to dispatch his work upon Earth, that he may the sooner be in Heaven.