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

By Reproof, By Counsel.

1. This detects and reproves the baseness and sinfulness of Idleness and Sloth, whether it be in point of Care, or of Labour. The holy Ghost by the hand of the Wise-Man doth frequently lash this sort of Men. Prov. 26. 13, 14, 15, 16. The slothful man saith, There is a Lion in the way, a Lion in the streets: he fancies danger and difficulties where there are none. Then, As the Door turneth upon his Hinges, so doth the Slothful upon his Bed: The Slothful hideth his Hand in his Bosom, it grieveth him to bring it again to his Mouth. And yet after all this, The Sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven Men that can render a Reason. And herein he did not beat the Air: For there were then, and are now, numbers of idle Companions, idle Tradesmen, like those Cretans, Tit. 1. 12. that were evil Beasts, slow Bellies, therefore evil because idle. Come to their Shops in the day, they are abroad; the Prentice saw not his Master since eleven of Clock; knock at their Doors at eleven at night, they are at the Coffee-house; come in the Morning, they are in bed. Is this to be diligent in your business? Is this doing what your hand findeth to do, with all your might? How will you account for your Time, and Strength, and Parts? Why stand ye thus idle in the Marketplace? Where are the old Roman Censors morum, Officers who were to examine and punish those that spent much, and laboured little? It is said of the Manna, that if it were not gathered early, it melted: They that loved their Beds, starved their Bellies. This course will load you with Guilt, and ease you of your Estate; no Calling so high, but Sloth will impoverish; none so mean, but ⟨p. 91⟩Diligence will enrich. I was by the Field of the Slothful, and by the Vineyard of the Man void of Understanding: You see the idle Man and the Fool are wrapped in the same Cloak. And lo, it was all grown over with Thorns, and Nettles had covered the face thereof, and the Stone-wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well, I looked upon it and received Instruction. Yet a little Sleep, a little Slumber—So shall thy Poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed Man: