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

Fuller's Church History of England. And for other History, you may have Mr. Speed's History of England. (The wealthier may add to these, Camden's Britannia, Sir Rich. Baker's Chronicle, Isaackson's Chronology, and Plutarch's Lives and Morals.) And having the present State of England, and of London in particular, and a Statute-Book, you are competently provided for Books in the English Tongue. Tho you may read, yet you need not buy many more. That Money which others spend in superfluous Treats and Vanities, will in a short time furnish you with these Companions•; ⟨p. 220⟩and that time which they bestow in doing nothing, will serve you for this Employment, which will advance both your Intellectuals and your Morals here, and your Eternal Happiness hereafter. But then you must learn,

Fuller's Church History of England. And for other History, you may have Mr. Speed's History of England. (The wealthier may add to these, Cambden's Britannia, Sir Rich. Baker's Chronicle, Isaackson's Chronology, and Plutarch's Lives and Morals.) And having the present State of England, and of London in particular, and a Statute-Book, you are competently provided for Books in the English Tongue. Tho you may read, yet you need not buy many more. That Money which others spend in superfluous Treats and Vanities, will in a short time furnish you with these Companions•; ⟨p. 220⟩and that time which they bestow in doing nothing, will serve you for this Employment, which will advance both your Intellectuals and your Morals here, and your Eternal Happiness hereafter. But then you must learn,

2. How to use these Books when you have them. They must not lie by you in the dust, but they must be read, and read throughout, not by parcels here and there; and yet not too much at once, for the Mind and Memory are frail and finite; and you should leave them, as you should your Sermons and Meals, with an Appetite. But be sure you read with a deliberate Attention, and Application of what you read to your own Souls, and as occasion is offered, interline holy Ejaculations to God, to bless what you read unto you. If the Excellency or Difficulty of matter require it, grudge not to read it twice or thrice: and if you have time and convenience, extract and transcribe those things which most eminently concerns you; or make some Index whereby to find them again. Lend them also to any that will be sure to read them, and restore them; so you may have a Trade going of saving Souls when you are asleep. Finally, let not your reading intrench upon your necessary Business, nor make you more contentious, proud, censorious; but more holy, and humble, and useful; that the Divinity of your Books may be read in your daily Practice, and that your Works may commend your Authors.