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

5. Lastly; The Tradesman's Contentedness in his Calling is showed, in his steady Continuance in it: whereby, notwithstanding the Trouble, Pains, Disappointments, Losses, and Crosses he meets with, he constantly abides by it; and doth not ⟨p. 182⟩without sufficient cause desert it. And this was the case in the Primitive Times, which the Apostle plainly resolves in that, 1 Cor. 7. 20. Let every Man abide in the same Calling, wherein he was called. For Ignatius saith, That in his time, many Christian Servants were importunate with the Church, that at her cost they might, by all means, be made free: They were sick of their present Callings. Thus many now, when they grow slothful, or meet with some Check in their Trades, are all on the spur to leave their own Callings, and betake themselves to some other, or perhaps to none at all.

5. Lastly; The Tradesman's Contentedness in his Calling is shewed, in his steady Continuance in it: whereby, notwithstanding the Trouble, Pains, Disappointments, Losses, and Crosses he meets with, he constantly abides by it; and doth not ⟨p. 182⟩without sufficient cause desert it. And this was the case in the Primitive Times, which the Apostle plainly resolves in that, 1 Cor. 7. 20. Let every Man abide in the same Calling, wherein he was called. For Ignatius saith, That in his time, many Christian Servants were importunate with the Church, that at her cost they might, by all means, be made free: They were sick of their present Callings. Thus many now, when they grow slothful, or meet with some Check in their Trades, are all on the spur to leave their own Callings, and betake themselves to some other, or perhaps to none at all.

But he that knows himself to be at God's disposal, and not at his own, will quiet his Mind in his present Condition, and will not budge, till God that called him to it, do call him out of it. For as he that goes to Sea, hath resolved beforehand that he must have Storms and Enemies to meet him in that Seafaring Life; so the Tradesman must reckon upon Discouragements and Difficulties, (such there's also in all other Callings) and must not be affrighted by them. How often have I in travelling along one side of a dirty Lane, verily thought that the other side, if I could cross over to it, was fair and even? but when with much difficulty I have crossed over the Road unto it, have found it equally deep and dirty, as that I left. And even so you imagine that some other Employment would be far more convenient for you, and it looks so at a distance; but you will find, it may be by too late Experience, that every Calling hath its Troubles and Inconveniences; and if you cannot live upon that wherein you have