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

(2.) When God doth disable a Man's Body, then he discharges him from his Calling. Yet it is not every Distemper nor Pain, whether Acute or Chronic, which will justify his deserting his Employment: for then few or none would abide therein. Distempers are inseparable from some Constitutions, and inseparable from some Trades too; and since Sin opened the Door, we are all daily liable to a thousand Miseries, so that we have more cause to admire at one hours Health, than a years Sickness and Pain. The aged and sickly Tradesman may then be like the Pilot, who though he run not up and down the Ship, yet sitting still he is more serviceable than all the rest; so may he by his Advice and Guidance be highly serviceable in his Profession. But that Disability only releaseth a Man from his Calling, which is in consistent with the managing of it, to those Ends for which he should follow it. When his Weakness or Pain makes him incapable, to do what is necessary in his Employment: So that his Body suffers on the one hand, and his Employment on the other; and there is no rational Prospect of being restored to a sufficient Ability; in this case God signs him a Release from his Calling; it is a necessary Cessation, not a sinful Idleness. Consider this, ye younger Tradesmen, and provide for the future. Spend not your Estates as fast as ye get them; Go to the Ant, thou Fool, and consider her Ways, and be wise. There is a time to get, and a time to spend: Eccles. 3. 6. And therefore now employ your Parts, your Strength, your Opportunities to make competent Provision for a ⟨p. 234⟩time of Sickness. Now rise up, that then you may lie in Bed: run now, that then you may keep your Chair; labour now, that then you may rest. And beware of all Intemperance, and hurtful Lusts whereby Nature is weakened, and a Door opened to many Infirmities, lest you remove to the Hospital at last. Sobriety and Piety, will be Health to your Navel, and Marrow to your Bones. Then will you have the Comfort of your former Integrity, when you will receive but little from your present Indisposition, your Calling and you must part, there is no remedy.

(2.) When God doth disable a Man's Body, then he discharges him from his Calling. Yet it is not every Distemper nor Pain, whether Acute or Chronical, which will justify his deserting his Imployment: for then few or none would abide therein. Distempers are inseparable from some Constitutions, and inseparable from some Trades too; and since Sin open'd the Door, we are all daily liable to a thousand Miseries, so that we have more cause to admire at one hours Health, than a years Sickness and Pain. The aged and sickly Tradesman may then be like the Pilot, who though he run not up and down the Ship, yet sitting still he is more serviceable than all the rest; so may he by his Advice and Guidance be highly serviceable in his Profession. But that Disability only releaseth a Man from his Calling, which is in consistent with the managing of it, to those Ends for which he should follow it. When his Weakness or Pain makes him incapable, to do what is necessary in his Imployment: So that his Body suffers on the one hand, and his Imployment on the other; and there is no rational Prospect of being restor'd to a sufficient Ability; in this case God signs him a Release from his Calling; it is a necessary Cessation, not a sinful Idleness. Consider this, ye younger Tradesmen, and provide for the future. Spend not your Estates as fast as ye get them; Go to the Ant, thou Fool, and consider her Ways, and be wise. There is a time to get, and a time to spend: