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

This Diligence also excludes all bewitching Pleasures and Recreations, which would distract you from your business. Such as are lawful, necessary, and seasonable you may admit; but if they ensnare your Heart, or encroach upon your business, you must reject and answer them, as Nehemiah did, Neh. 6. 3. I am doing my work, so that I cannot come down: why should the Work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you? Pleasures have their charms, but he that feareth God, shall escape them all. The diligent Man useth them, as Sauce to restore his Stomach, palled with poring on his business; and therefore a touch of them serves his turn. He tastes them as the Dogs of Egypt do the Water of Nilus, with great caution, lest the Crocodiles devour them. But I have spoken somewhat about these before.

This Diligence also excludes all bewitching Pleasures and Recreations, which would distract you from your business. Such as are lawful, necessary, and seasonable you may admit; but if they insnare your Heart, or incroach upon your business, you must reject and answer them, as Nehemiah did, Neh. 6. 3. I am doing my work, so that I cannot come down: why should the Work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you? Pleasures have their charms, but he that feareth God, shall escape them all. The diligent Man useth them, as Sauce to restore his Stomach, palled with poring on his business; and therefore a touch of them serves his turn. He tastes them as the Dogs of Egypt do the Water of Nilus, with great caution, lest the Crocodiles devour them. But I have spoken somewhat about these before.

Lastly, This Diligence will restrain all unseasonable Devotion. Far be it from me to discourage ⟨p. 86⟩the Exercises of Piety: This Climate is grown cold enough in them. But there is a preposterous Zeal in some Tradesmen, and Women especially, which draws them to neglect one Calling to further another. But the diligent Man considers, that God in his great Wisdom appointed the six days for Work, and a seventh for Rest. And tho upon extraordinary occasions we may and ought to devote some of this time to sacred purposes, as in case of Solemn Fasts and Feasts; and tho an industrious Tradesman may redeem by his Diligence some other hours, as for the Refreshment of his Body, so for the enriching his Soul, by reading, hearing, and prayer; yet it is no way justifiable, to neglect a Man's necessary Affairs, upon pretence of religious Worship; to lt necessary Work be undone at home, just Debts unpaid abroad, the Family languish for want of Providence, the Shop languish for want of his Presence; while he runs from one opportunity to another, till hi Estate be weakened, and his Credit snk. Doubtless there is a measure to be observed in those things, and usually a Man is bound to pray and hear no more than will consist, 1. With his Ability of Body; for if the Bucket be once broken, it will carry no Water. 2. With hi lawful Calling; for therein God is truly served. 3. With time to meditate on what he hears; for one Duty must never exclude another, he that doth nothing but hear, will grow deaf with hearing; and those holy Exercises are but means, the end is still nobler, which is to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present World. And so much for the Particulars, wherein this Diligence is exemplified.