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

But you will Ask, May not a Tradesman, tho yet of some competent Abilities of Mind and Body, lay aside his Calling, when he hath gotten a sufficient Estate for himself and Family? Nay, should he not in that case do it, thereby to have some Enjoyment of his Labours, and also to give place to young Traders to improve their Talents? I Answer, Yes, he may; provided he intend not to be unserviceable in the World, but to employ his Parts, his Abilities, and his Estate some way to the good of Mankind. He may rather choose a Country-Life, and God forbid he should be denied, after his wearisome Employment, the comfort of it. But then he must not say to his Soul, Soul, thou hast much Goods laid up for many Years, take thine Ease, eat, arink, and be merry. He must not lay up Dainties and Treasures only for himself, but must be rich towards God, Luke 12. 20. Indeed, he must not only aim at Ease, but at Leisure to prepare himself for the World to come. And I conceive, that the Tradesman, ⟨p. 235⟩who hath arrived at a sufficient Estate, and is declined in Years, not only may, but should, unless there be some other justifiable Reasons that do preponderate, give place to the younger Tradesmen, and not stand like great old Trees, which hinder the growth of all below them. He that conjoins the common Good with his private Advantage, will not be so selfish, as to prefer his own unnecessary Emolument, before the necessary Encouragement of many. He thought it unreasonable in his Predecessors, and therefore should not deal so with those that are coming after him. And in this his Repose, he should not only instruct young Tradesmen in the Virtues of Prudence, Justice, Truth, and Piety, but set himself to do all the good he can in the place of his Retirement; and there lay out some of that Wisdom, Religion, and Estate, which he had laid up before; so shall he come to his Grave in a full Age, like as a Shock of Corn cometh in his Season: Job 5. 26.

But you will Ask, May not a Tradesman, tho yet of some competent Abilities of Mind and Body, lay aside his Calling, when he hath gotten a sufficient Estate for himself and Family? Nay, should he not in that case do it, thereby to have some Injoyment of his Labours, and also to give place to young Traders to improve their Talents? I Answer, Yes, he may; provided he intend not to be unserviceable in the World, but to imploy his Parts, his Abilities, and his Estate some way to the good of Mankind. He may rather chuse a Country-Life, and God forbid he should be denied, after his wearisom Imployment, the comfort of it. But then he must not say to his Soul, Soul, thou hast much Goods laid up for many Years, take thine Ease, eat, arink, and be merry. He must not lay up Dainties and Treasures only for himself, but must be rich towards God,