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

And particularly, this Justice obligeth you to pay your Work-folks their Wages, and that at their Day, or usual time for the receipt thereof. No Command of God can be more strict and plain than that, Deut. 24. 15. At his day (not when ⟨p. 102⟩you please, or are in the humour, but at his day) thou shalt give his Hire, neither shall the Sun go down upon it: for he is poor and setteth his Heart upon it; lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be Sin unto thee. His Belly or Back may want it, or his Family may want it, or his Trade may want it; or if none of these, yet it is his, not yours, but his when it is earned, and becomes due; and if it be not unjust to detain from another against his will what is his due, there is no such thing as Unrighteousness in the World. See also Levit. 19. 13. Thou shalt not defraud thy Neighbour, nor rob him: the Wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night, until the morning.

2. This Justice is shown in paying your due Debts. The prudent Tradesman is wary how he contracts a Debt, and considers whether God do call him to enter such Obligations; but when they become due, then it is plain Justice to discharge them, and to do it as cheerfully as you did contract them; otherwise, tho you keep the Possession, yet another hath the Right; and in detaining it against his Will, you are unjust. The Scripture is clear, Rom. 13. 8. Owe no Man any thing, but to love one another. The business is not whether your Creditor be rich or poor, (tho it be a heavy Aggravation, when the Widow or Fatherless be defrauded of their due; their Tears will cry in the Ears of the Lord of Hosts) but Justice stands in rendering to every one his due, and all the while it is with-held, you live in Sin against God. For every Man is Steward of his Estate unto God, and he that wrongs a Steward in what his Lord has entrusted him, wrongs the Lord ⟨p. 103⟩