A61398:29
The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…
The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a calling in general : and directions for the right managing of the tradesman's calling in particular / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed by J.D. for Samuel Sprint, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Tradesman's Calling. › Chapter 1: Of the Nature and Kinds of Callings.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. The third thing is the End of a Particular Calling; the next End is, a Man's own Good: That with quietness they work, and eat their own Bread, 2 Thess. 3. 12. A Man's own Bread tastes pleasantly to an ingenious Man, tho never so course. Yea, a Person may design to gain such an Estate by his Calling, that he may live comfortably, that he may have whereon to live, and wherewith to give—Let him labour, working with his Hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth; Ephes. 4. 28. Another End is the Common Good: For we are ⟨p. 5⟩in this World, as the Members are in the Body, where each must be useful for the whole, and where each preserves its self, (it's true) but 'tis with regard to the whole. And therefore it is a brutish Selfishness to design no bodies Good but our own; and that Proverbial Speech is very unchristian, if it be understood exclusively, viz. Every one for himself: No, as the Community hath need of thee, so thou hast need of the Community. And the Eye cannot say unto the Hand, I have no need of thee; nor again, the noble Head to the poor Feet, I have no need of you; 1 Cor. 12. 21. But the highest End of all, being understood▪ tho not expressed in the Description, is the Glory of God. For, as of him, and through him are all things; so to him must the Glory of all things be intended and ascribed, Rom. 11. 36. If the honest Tradesman desire a competent Estate, it is that he may live, not to himself, but to the Glory of God; if he get any thing more, his aim is therewith to educate his Children so as they may honour God. In short, as the most religious Actions of an Hypocrite, being traced to the utmost, do end in self; so the meanest Labours of a true Christian resolve themselves into the Glory of God. And so much for the Description of a Particular Calling.
3. The third thing is the End of a Particular Calling; the next End is, a Man's own Good: That with quietness they work, and eat their own Bread,