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

3. But if God or Man, or your own Consciences can prove you unrighteous and unconscionable in your Dealings, that care not how you get Wealth, so that you have it; nor whom you wrong, so that you can do it cleverly; let these Lines help to convict you, let these Words sink into your Hearts. Happy ye would be, but this is not the way to it: this only is the way to accursed Riches; you build your House upon a Quick-sand; Jerem. 17. 11. As the Partridge sitteth on Eggs, and hatcheth them not: So he that getteth Riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his Days, and at his End shall be a Fool. He was a Fool all along, but he shall find at last that he is a Fool. And though the Sword of Justice never reach you, nor any Man's Eye find you out; yet that Scripture will follow and overtake you, 1 Thess. 4. 6. Let no Man go beyond and defraud his Brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the Avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you, and testified. You wrong your Neighbour much, but you wrong your selves more. You dishonour and defy a righteous God, who hath said, Job 20. 15, &c. He hath swallowed down Riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his Belly,—surely he shall not feel Quietness in his Belly,—In the Fullness of his Sufficiency he shall be in straits, &c. Will ye not believe this, until ye feel it? Do not his Eyes behold, and his Eye-lids try the Children of Men? Hath he left off to be just? No, no; your Sin is crying for Vengeance all this while. O let the Long-suffering of God be ⟨p. 128⟩Salvation to you! Let our Counsel be acceptable to you! which is to break off your Sins by Righteousness, and your Iniquities by showing Mercy to the Poor, if it may be a lengthening of your Tranquillity, Dan. 4. 27. Your Riches are corrupted, your Gold and Silver is cankered, your Subtlety is Folly, ye are in the wrong way to Greatness; durable Riches and Righteousness go together; Wrath gotten by Vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathereth by Labour, shall increase, Prov. 13. 11.