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

And then useful: For every one should desire to be as useful to the World as he can: Now some Callings there be, wherein a Man may get Riches abundantly for himself; but, in the way of his Calling at least, he doth little good to Men's Souls or Bodies. It is very desirable to a ⟨p. 34⟩good Man to do as much Good as he can; and a kind of Penance, to spend the Substance of his Life in an Employment about Trifles; but this, if the Heart and Ends be holy, may be lawful enough, tho not so expedient, or not so comfortable. Unsafe Callings may be needful, and some less useful Professions may be lawful, and therefore (herein) I would not impose upon the Conscience, but only direct to the best.

And then useful: For every one should desire to be as useful to the World as he can: Now some Callings there be, wherein a Man may get Riches abundantly for himself; but, in the way of his Calling at least, he doth little good to Men's Souls or Bodies. It is very desirable to a ⟨p. 34⟩good Man to do as much Good as he can; and a kind of Penance, to spend the Substance of his Life in an Imployment about Trifles; but this, if the Heart and Ends be holy, may be lawful enough, tho not so expedient, or not so comfortable. Unsafe Callings may be needful, and some less useful Professions may be lawful, and therefore (herein) I would not impose upon the Conscience, but only direct to the best.

And then, lastly, attainable, that is, by just and honest means. For if it be never so lawful and fit in it self, yet if it be out of your reach, or if it be in others Disposal, it were Folly in you to choose it. For Example, it were a ridiculous thing for a poor Country-Lad to choose the Calling of a Turkey-Merchant, which is out of his reach, or of a Judg, which is in the King's Disposal. But whoso is about to choose a Calling, let him sit down first, and count the Cost, let him consider, whether he have Means proportionable to the End; whether with God's ordinary Blessing, he be able to deal with it; whether his Head be strong enough to overcome the things to be learned, and his Heart strong enough to undergo the things to be born, for the attaining of it; lest haply after he hath laid the Foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, saying, This Man began to build, and was not able to finish. Notwithstanding, if a Person be capable of sundry Callings of a different Excellency, it is his Wisdom and Duty to choose the best, wherein he may most eminently serve God, and his Generation.