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

5. This Diligence is shown, In Taking a due care in those that seem lesser matters. Many small matters amount to what is considerable at length. A mean Customer attended, and pleased, shows the way to a greater. The disdaining to get, or save, or mind things of small value, is often punished of God, by bringing such proud and careless ones to a morsel of Bread. When the Creature groans under one Man's vanity or abuse, the Lord hears it, and usually transfers it to another, who will use it better. Plain and notable is that passage of our blessed Saviour, Joh. 6. 12. when there were only some fragments left of five Loves and two Fishes, which had fed five thousand People; and thereby one would think had done their part; yet he appoints his own Disciples, to gather up the Fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Now it is one thing to be thus wary, out of a penurious gripple humour, and another when it is out of a conscientious respect to all God's Creatures, and a diligent care to put every thing to its best use; as it's very likely that Christ caused these Fragments to be reserved for those that needed them. And a constant and careful respect to such small matters, will render a man able to do much more good, than a heedless person shall do, tho he be of a larger estate. God has promised, that to him that hath, shall be given; namely, to him that hath but two Talents, and improves them, they shall increase to four. I mean not by this particular to encourage any Sordidness, or unseemly Parsimony; but a due regard to those ⟨p. 83⟩smaller matters, on which greater do depend, or which by some few repetitions amount to great. By a due care hereof, many Persons have attained to a great Estate, and have done a great deal of good with it.

5. This Diligence is shewn, In Taking a due care in those that seem lesser matters. Many small matters amount to what is considerable at length. A mean Customer attended, and pleased, shews the way to a greater. The disdaining to get, or save, or mind things of small value, is often punish'd of God, by bringing such proud and careless ones to a morsel of Bread. When the Creature groans under one Man's vanity or abuse, the Lord hears it, and usually transfers it to another, who will use it better. Plain and notable is that passage of our blessed Saviour, Joh. 6. 12