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

1. The Folly of Man in reference to what hath been said: 1. Of those that mind neither their Spiritual nor Temporal Callings. As for their general Christian Calling, they were born and bred in it, it is true, and so do profess it; and if they had received their Birth and Education under ⟨p. 7⟩Paganism or Mahumetanism, they had yielded up themselves to those Religions: For, as they have never searched into the Foundations and Reasons of Christianity, so they never study nor set themselves to the Practice of the great Duties of it; but their whole business is to please their Appetite, and to promote their Interest in this World, and do wholly neglect the World to come: A lively Faith, sound Repentance, constant Holiness, Self-denial, and undissembled Love to God and Man, they are Strangers unto; and some of them for Temperance, Justice, Patience, Friendship might go to School to Heathens; and have only to support them a Form of Godliness, but in the mean while they deny the Power thereof. And the same Persons are equally mindful of any Temporal Calling; that is, they no way promote the Good of Mankind; they have Parts, but improve no Science with them; have Strength and Health, but use no Art or Faculty; Talents, but hide them in a Napkin. O how will these give account to the Judg of Quick and Dead? Do ye think that he will never reckon with you, because he delays his coming? Or, that he will be put off with the Story of your Extraction or Education? You have Abilities to ridicule Religion, and to do Mischief; you have Strength enough to drink, to hunt, to whore; ye are only wise to do Evil, but to do Good ye have no Knowledge. Woe to you, if ye reform not; ye have a long Arrear, and he that is gracious, and merciful, and slow to Anger, yet by no means will clear the Guilty: And therefore bethink your selves, grant your selves but ⟨p. 8⟩Leisure to consider what ye have done for God, what for Mankind, and what for your own Souls; and upon a serious Reflection you will find, that ye have been all this while asleep, in a pleasant foolish Dream, and that it is high time to awake to Action and Employment; who knows but that you may receive your Penny, tho you come into the Vineyard at the eleventh Hour?

1. The Folly of Man in reference to what hath been said: 1. Of those that mind neither their Spiritual nor Temporal Callings. As for their general Christian Calling, they were born and bred in it, it is true, and so do profess it; and if they had received their Birth and Education under