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

CHAP. VI. Of the Finishing of a Calling.

I Come now, in the last place, to speak, concerning a Man's Departing from his Calling; in what Cases and by what Means a Man may lawfully leave his Calling: I say, leave his Calling, for one may be interrupted from following his proper Employment for a time, when he doth not relinquish it. Some necessary and emergent Occasions may divert the most diligent Person from his Occupation, perhaps for Weeks or Months, but still after a dispatch of them, he returns to the vigorous Management of it again. The restoring or preserving his Health, the gratifying or assisting of his Friends or Relations, or his other needful Secular Affairs, may call him abroad, and detain him for some space of time, but he is not easy, he hastens to his own business, this is but a Parenthesis: He and his Calling are not parted. Neither can a Man be said to leave his Calling, when for good Reasons he lessens it, and thinks fit to drive a smaller Trade, leaves off dealing in some Commodities▪ ⟨p. 230⟩finds it better for his Soul, or Body, or Estate to draw in his Sails, and accordingly contracts his Business, but yet doth not desert his Calling. But now a Man leaves off his Calling, when he doth totally and finally forsake it; I say, totally and finally: and this is a matter of great moment, let a Man's Calling be what it will; and it behoves every Man to see that he and his Calling part fair.

I Come now, in the last place, to speak, concerning a Man's Departing from his Calling; in what Cases and by what Means a Man may lawfully leave his Calling: I say, leave his Calling, for one may be interrupted from following his proper Imployment for a time, when he doth not relinquish it. Some necessary and emergent Occasions may divert the most diligent Person from his Occupation, perhaps for Weeks or Months, but still after a dispatch of them, he returns to the vigorous Management of it again. The restoring or preserving his Health, the gratifying or assisting of his Friends or Relations, or his other needful Secular Affairs, may call him abroad, and detain him for some space of time, but he is not easy, he hastens to his own business, this is but a Parenthesis: He and his Calling are not parted. Neither can a Man be said to leave his Calling, when for good Reasons he lessens it, and thinks fit to drive a smaller Trade, leaves off dealing in some Commodities