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

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.

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 chuse it. For Example, it were a ridiculous thing for a poor Country-Lad to chuse the Calling of a Turkie-Merchant, which is out of his reach, or of a Judg, which is in the King's Disposal. But whoso is about to chuse 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 learn'd, 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 chuse the best, wherein he may most eminently serve God, and his Generation.

And from this Head about the Choice of a Calling, I infer the necessity of Deliberation, in order to such Election. God hath given to Man Reason for this use; that he should first consider, then choose, then put in Execution; and it is a preposterous and brutish thing to fix, or fall upon any weighty Business, such as a Calling or Condition of Life, without a careful pondering it in the Balance of sound Reason. It is enough for a Bowl to go according to its Bias, or for a Beast to follow its Fancy and Appetite; and yet many choose no better a Guide to themselves in this matter. They fancy such a Course of Life, but can give no solid Reason why or wherefore, and it thrives accordingly with them. They promise themselves Ease and Honour by the Ministry, and meeting with neither, are sick of it. They fancy wonderful Gain, or Delight in other Callings, and being disappointed, are weary of them; and this befalls them for want of Deliberation.