The Weavers Pocket-Book, Part 2
The Art of Weaving Spiritualized. Part. II.
CHAP. I. Of the Excellency of the Trade.
Obſervations.
HItherto I have only helped our Weaver with ſome hints for Spiritual Meditations and Diſcourſe from the ſeveral parts of his Work. Let me now give him ſome few Obſervations I h…ve made, upon eight and twenty Years Converſe with many of this Occupation. My Obſervations, will ſome of them be more General, relating to other Trades as well as that; Some more Special, relating to that Employment. I ſhall not be curious in diſtinguiſhing them each from other, but take them as my thoughts ſuggeſt them to me.
1. In the firſt place, I obſerve the Circumſtances of that Occupation? Equally fitted to the Perſonal advantages of thoſe which are Employed in it, and the Political good of the place where it is exerciſed with any other; If not much exceeding moſt Employments: VVhichWhich I ſhall make out in ſeveral particulars.
1. Its End and effect, is the Supply of one of the great wants of Humane Life. Food and Rayment, are our two great Bodily Needs: The Apoſtle adviſeth, that if we have them we ſhould be content. The Weaver ſupplies the Latter. VVhat ſad Employments have many Perſons in the World, the End of which is nothing elſe but Luxuary and the Satisfaction of Luſts: Their Trades are but a Factorage for the Devil, a meer Proviſion for the ſinful fleſh, for the fulfilling the Luſts thereof. Bleſſed GOD! If mens Conſciences where not feared with an hot iron, upon what an uneaſy pillow would they lye down at Night when their Conſciences ſhould tell them, now I have been doing nothing this day, but ſerving mens luſts, and helping them on to their Eternal R…ine and Deſtruction? How many are thus employed? The Weaver as to this may ſleep ſecure; and work ſecurely in the day-time, being aſſured, that he may comfortably abide in the Calling to which GOD hath called him; He may confidently beg GOD'S Bleſſing upon his Employment, and ſay, Proſper thou the work of our Hands upon us, O LORD, Proſper thou our Handy work. He whoſe Employment lieth in a meer Service of Pride, Luxulry and Wantonneſs cannot do ſo.
2. A Second advantage of this Trade, is The little time that it giveth either Servant or Maſter, (but Servants eſpecially) for idleneſs. Idleneſs (eſpecially in Youth) is the ſource and fountain of almoſt all the Debauchery polluteth the world, and all the Baggary with which we abound, Solomon tells us, Eccleſiaſticus 10.18. By much Slothfulneſs the Building decayeth, and through idleneſs of the Hands the Building drops through. This (ſaith Ezekial 16.49.) was the iniquity of S…dom, Pride, fulneſs of Bread, and abundance of idleneſs was in her Daughters. The Soul of Man i… an active buſy thing, and muſt be ſet on work; if it be not kept in a conſtant good Employment, it will moſt certainly employ it ſelf ill, and undoubtedly the Debauchery of moſt places owes it ſelf to the great Leiſure that Servants have in Shops, &c. The Weaver can find no time to be Idle in, a bleſſed Employment which keeps the Soul out of the Temptations to which Idleneſs expoſeth it. Idle Perſons 1 Timothy 5.13. are not Idle only, but Tatlers, and Buſie-Bodies, wandring from Houſe to Houſe, and ſpeaking things which they ought not: Yea, and doing things too which they ought not. It is the idle Perſon that proves the Gameſter, the Drunkard, &c. It is true there may be an Exceſs in Labour, when it is to that degree that it waſteth the Body, deſtroyeth the Health, allows not due time for Devotion, nor the reaſonable Repairs of the Body, by Food or Sleep, or moderate Recreation; but (theſe things excepted) the leſſer time for Idleneſs any Trade allows the better it is. This I am ſure this Trade doth. I and many times Aſhamed of my own Bed, when I ſee the Candles in the poor Weavers Chambers, or hear the Noiſes of their Looms.
3. Thirdly, It is the Advantage of this above many other Trades, that a Man may be dealing in it with a little Stock, and from it get a little Livelihood. It is the Diſadvantage of many other Employments, that nothing can be done in them without ſeveral Hundreds of Pounds going: 'tis otherwiſe in this, My ſelf have known many who came to conſiderable Eſtates, who have told me they begun with ten Pound; they paſſed but with a Staff over Jordan, and at their coming Back had Great Droves.
4. Fourthly, If GOD blaſts the Weaver in his Courſe of Trade, yet (provided he hath his Health and Limbs,) his Trade affords him a Livelihood. Many Trades do not this, they are more open, &c. and if the Tradeſman fails, he is forced to fly.
5. If GOD bleſſeth the Weaver in his Trade, he is fitted by it alſo in a great meaſure for the more Noble Employment of a Merchant; He hath learned to know the true making and the prices of moſt Stuffs, how they may be afforded, &c.
6. It gives a great advantage, for ſome exerciſes of Religion to be interwoven with ſeculare Employments. It is the great unhappineſs of ſome Employments, that they ſo wholly take up the Head and Heart of ſuch as are Ingaged in them, that they hardly allow any intervals for any Spiritual Employment. The Weaver is not ſo; But his Trade is very conſiſtent with, 1. Heavenly Ejaculations: He may have manum in textrino oculos in coelo; his Employment will not hinder his devout Soul from many a look toward Heaven; he may VVeave and pray. 2. Spiritual Meditations: If not ſo continued and fixed, as if wholly at leiſure; yet frequent, and ſerious. My ſenſe of this hath given me the occaſion of helping him in the former part of this Diſcourſe. 3. Spiritual diſcourſe. Ordinarily three or four are working here together in the ſame Chamber. If but one of them will be the Preacher, the others are tyed to be the hearers; and indeed I have often thought (how truly I cannot tell) that this Trade this way hath very much contributed to the Religion of this Town, GOD having a great number of that Occupation among us, of whom we have Reaſon to hope very well, as to their Eternal State.
7. It is a Trade of great ingenuity: No mechanick Trade (if this may be called ſo) giving ſuch an advantage to Ingenious Perſons to Improve their fancy, by the invention of new Patterns, or mixing Yarn and Colours too for a new Pattern laid before them.
8. Laſtly, It is a Trade infinitely uſeful as to the Poor. Females both VVomen and Children are imployed in preparing their Yarn: Children from their Infancy almoſt, in winding their Pipes, Men in Weaving at the Loom. In ſhort I cannot tell whether there be any one other Employment, that affords ſo many perſonal advantage… to the Tradeſ-man, or political advantages to the State under whoſe Government they are employed. Solomon ſaith, the King is ſerved … the Field: I am ſure the King of England is eminently ſerved by the Weaver; and this is obvious to any one who doth but conſider, what an innumerable company of Spinſters, Woolcombers, Filling-boys, Shearmen, Dyers, Preſſers, &c. depend upon them: Beſides, the Merchant by them is ſerved with infinite variety of Stuffs to be tranſported into all the hotter parts of the world, beſides the great quantities uſed in our Land, and the Kings adjacent Dominions.
1. This Obſervation may be of a double uſe to the Weaver. 1. To Reſtrain his Diſcontent for the Courſe of Life, in which the Providence of GOD, the Prudence of his Parents or Governours, and his own Choice in his Younger Years, have engaged him. It is a great infirmity of our Natures, that not one of many is content with his portion. The Poet long ſince complained of it:
— Qui fit Mecoenas ut nemo quam ſibi Sortem,
Seu ratio dederit, ſeu ſors objecerit illa,
Contentus vivat, laudet diverſa ſequentes.
The Weaver is ready to ſay, O that I had been an Hoſier, a Groſſer, a Draper; any thing but what I am! One great Reaſon of which is; That we can eaſily ſee the Difficulties which attend our Courſe of Life, but are not ſo good …dges of what attend anothers; which makes anothers appear to us ſo far more deſirable, when in very deed there is no Courſe of Life in this World, but hath its Difficulties attending it, and Sufficient for every Trade are the Evils thereof: and there is none that makes an option, of another Courſe, but if he would give himſel… the leiſure to enquire of ſome ſo imployed, he would find them as much wiſhing they had been ſomething elſe than what they are. But what hath the Weaver to Complain of? VVhat ca… commend a Trade which is wanting to his? The Alehouſe-keeper, Vintner, Innkeeper, may lye dow… many a night with an …aking heart, to think how many he hath been helping on to the bottomleſs pit. Others may have ſowre reflection… when they come at night to think over what they have been doing that day, and their Conſciences makes them anſwer, that they have been ſerving the VVorld with what is of no uſe but to ſerve Pride or Luxury. The Weaver's Conſcience ſhall never trouble him for this: Whe… the Weaver reflects upon his Trade, and conſiders the general End of it approved by GOD, the profit of it though not ſo great as others, yet what will afford Food and Rayment to the induſtrious Hand, the advantages of it whether GOD pleaſeth in it to ſmile or frown upon him, the advantage it gives him for devout Ejaculations, Pious Meditations, Good Conferences, the Uſefulneſs of it for all, more eſpecially for the Maintenance of the Poor, he hath no Reaſon to Murmur at Divine Providence, nor to Blame his Parents Prudence, or reflect upon his Youthful Indiſcretion: GOD hath choſen a Good Lot for him, aad he ought Chearfully to abide in the Calling to which GOD hath called him and to be Content.
2. Did I ſay to be Content? yea to be highly than…ful unto GOD; Bleſſing GOD that by his Providence directed him to ſuch an Employ in the VVorld, as his Conſcience ſhall never juſtly check him for the following of it; ſuch a one as he can in Faith go to GOD Morning and Evening and beg GODS bleſſing upon (So cannot m…ny a jollier Perſon:) An Employment th…t filleth his H…nd, and diverts from Idleneſs which is the Souls ruſt, and Poiſon; an Employment in which he hath many advantages, more than in many others, to ſerve his GOD, himſelf, his generation; That he ſhall not live in the E…rth like a drone, upon the Honey gathered by others, nor like a Beaſt of Prey upon Rapine, nor like one who thinks he is onelyonly Born for himſ…lf, and whom, both the Good and Sober VV…rld could a thouſand times with leſs inconvenience mi…s than keep alive. Here is abundance of matt…r of Praiſe, that hath Over-ruled our wills in the indiſcretion of our Youth to ſuch a choice as this, the choice of a Trade at which a Man may ſit with ſo much Satisfaction, and in which he may work with ſo much pleaſure, and the Exerciſe of ſo much Piety, and for ſo much Publick Profit, as well as Private Advantage. Let then the Weaver reflecting on his Employment fit and Sing.
The Poem.
My GOD! my Loom's no warehouſe, where
Gold-Ore, or Silver-wedges are;
No Goldſmith's Shop gliſtering with plate,
Nor any other thing of State.
'Tis no ſuch thing;
But 'tis an utenſil, by which
The Poor are cloathed and the Rich.
What helps to cover Mankinds ſhame,
And thence hath got it ſelf a Name;
To ſerve the King.
My work is ſuch, as when once o're
Will ne're my Conſcience trouble more:
When I have wearied hands and feet,
My ſleep upon it will be ſweet;
My mind at reſt.
'Tis what employs me all the day,
And ſpare's …r time with Sin to play;
What tire's not quite nor giveth leiſure,
For any fordid ſinful pleaſure;
And that Trade's beſt.
'Tis what ſo takes not up my mind,
But I can in it leiſure find
To ſend a prayer with a Sigh,
Ʋnto my Father that's on high;
And think upon
His works of Power, and of Grace,
And beg the ſhinings of his face:
There I can ſit, and ſpeak his praiſe,
And others tell, how he diſplays
Salvation.
There I can tell for me what GOD
Hath done, both by his Staff and Rod;
Of my Redeemer I can ſing
There, and exalt my LORD, my King;
And him Obey
In doing what he calls me to,
And which he wills me for to do.
There I can ſet on work the poor,
And keep them from rich Dives door;
And all men pay
With th' honeſt Sweat of a poor brow.
There I can recompence the Plow.
I find it Clothing, that me Bread:
Thus I am clad, and alſo ſed,
In a poor Loom;
Whiles the All-ſeeing Eye doth ſee
Others Working Iniquity.
My VVeavers Loom I will prefer
Before the idle Theater,
For CHRIST will come.
CHAP. II. For the moſt part thoſe who begin the leaſt Stock raiſe the beſt Eſtates.
2. Obſervations.
1. IT is an Obſervation which will be found to juſtify it ſelf; as in many other Trades and Courſes of Life, ſo in this Trade alſo. Not many who begin with large Stocks grow rich by Trading, but for the moſt part the moſt thriving part of Tradeſmen are thoſe who began with little; Nor doth the Reaſon of this ly wholly out of ordinary fight, though Poſſibly ſomething of it may not be ſo Obv… ous.
1. VVhat if we ſhould ſay (what the Comedian long ſince obſerved) that the Nature of all his proclivis a labore ad libidinem. Moſt perſon… Naturally hate Labour, and do not care to eat their Bread (if they can help it) in the Sweat of their face. If Men have enough to Live on, they will rather abate the Ornaments of their Life than endure Labour for them. VVhile on the other ſide, thoſe who at firſt are forced to Labour to ſupply the Neceſſities of their Life, by that time they have done that, are ſo habituated and inured to it, that Labour is far more pleaſant to them than Idleneſs, and they now do that upon choice, which they before did upon force. The diligent Hand makes Rich.
2. But yet this is not all. For the ſame Divine Authour alſo ſaith, The Bleſſing of GOD maketh Rich; but why, now the Bleſſing of GOD, more uſually attends the day of ſmall than of great things, may be a further Enquiry; For Poſſiby a farther Reaſon may be found out than this. That GOD uſually annexeth his Bleſſing to the diligent Hand; Yet always it is not thus. It was the ſaying of Hierome (at leaſt ordinarily …ſcribed to him,) Omnis dives eſt vel iniquies vel iniqui haeres. Every Rich Man is either an …nrighteous Man, or the heir of ſome unrighteous Man. It was ſomewhat too harſh to expreſs it by an Univerſal affirmative; But if he had ſaid the Major part are ſo, he had doubtleſs ſpoken much truth. Now where he that beginneth with a large Stock is iniqui hae…es, though not himſelf unrighteous, yet the heir of an Eſtate …t by Unrighteouſneſs, he is but mal… fidei poſſeſſor, in the Eyes of the juſt Judge, and it is no wonder if he neither keeps nor improvet… what he hath. It was an old ſaying —De mal… quaeſit… vix gaudet tertius haeres, and agrees with our Engliſh ſaying, Ill-gotten goods will not thrive▪ I knew a worthy perſon in this Nation to whom GOD had given a plentiful family of Children, and no plentiful, though a competent Eſtate, he would ordinarily ſ…tisfy himſelf diſcourſing with his dear and good Yoke-fellow about the circumſtances of his Family, when he ſhould ceaſe to be; That though his Eſtate was not great, yet it had no worm at the Root. Job ſaith of the wicked Man that is Rich, Job 27.17. Though he heap up Silver as the duſt, and prepare Rayment as the clay, he may prepare it, but the juſt ſhall put it on, and the innocent ſhall divide the Silver; he Buildeth his Houſe as the Moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh. Now he that beginneth with a great Stock that hath bi… thus got, it is no great wonder if it melts away in his Hands, though they be diligent Hands▪ he begins with an Eſtate upon which a Curſe i… entailed.
3. Further yet. VVhat if GOD will ſet a period to, and write a Nil Ʋltra upon an Eſtate? Nations, Perſons, and ſo Eſtates too have their periods. He that hath ſaid to the Waves, hither ſhall you go and no farther, hath alſo ſaid ſo to Perſons, Families, Nations, Eſtates, &c. It is true as to Eſtates as well as Time, and Duration of Life: One generation goeth and another cometh. It is he who poureth contempt upon Princes, and cauſeth them to wander in the wilderneſs where there is no way, and ſetteth the Poor on high from affliction, and maketh him Families like a flock, Pſalms 107.40, 41. Suppoſe the Man that beginneth with a great Stock, be as diligent as he who begins with a little, and as well proportioneth his expences to his heap (which is not often ſeen:) Suppoſe alſo no ruſt in his Silver, and that his Stock before he hath it, hath not mala Stamina vitae, a conſumption in its cauſes; But be well-gotten, and left unto him: yet if his Eſtate be grown up to its meaſure and come to its period, it is no wonder if it improveth not; It is arrived at its meaſure and come up to its full growth.
2. What is obvious in Worldly Trades, may poſſibly be obſerved as to our Spiritual Trading too. Thoſe that begin with the leaſt ſtock there, ordinarily make the beſt Improvements in Grace. Publicans and Harlots, enter into the Kingdom of GOD, before the Jews, Matthew 21.13. Oftentimes the last are firſt, and the firſt last; Men coming from the East and Weſt, and from the North and South, ſit down in the Kingdom of GOD, Luke 13.29, 31. And thoſe near it, (in an humane Eye) come ſhort of it. We ſhall obſerve two Sorts of Men, ſetting up in the ways of GOD; Some whoſe former Life hath been profane & ſenſual, who have been bred up in a great Ignorance of GOD, and the things of GOD; upon ſome of theſe GOD worketh and maketh a change in their Hearts. Others who have been bred up in the knowledge of the Scriptures, inſtructed by their Mothers and Grandmothers in the Nurture and admonition o… the LORD. Theſe latter may be Reſembled to Men beginning with great S…ocks. Now if you obſerve it, ordinarily the former make the greateſt Improvements in the Exerciſe of Grace. I know it is not Univerſally true as neither are our Obſervations as to Trade without an Exception, but Generally it is ſo. Paul ſeemeth to be an Exc…ption from this Rule; He began with a gre…t Stock, bred in the knowledge of the L…w, Ze…lous in the practice of it; touching the Ri…hteouſneſs which is of the Law, blameleſs Philippians 3.6. and yet Improved to a great heighth, laboured more abundan…ly than a…l the rest of the Apoſtles: But two things are obſervable in his caſe;
1. Thoſe things which were gain to him, thoſe he counted loſs for CHRIST, Philippians 3.7. He found himſelf rather diſadvantaged than advantaged by his legal Righteouſneſs: I Suppoſe, becauſe they expoſed him to a Temptation of reſting in them, and truſting to them rather than in the LORD CHRIST and his Righteouſneſs.
2. Secondly; Though he had a great Stock of Knowledge and Righteouſneſs; yet he had much impaired it before his Converſion; for he elſe where telleth us he was a Perſecuter, a Blaſphemer, ſo as he was now to begin again; like a Tradeſman that begins with a great Stock, and cannot thrive, but ſpends it and ſquanders it away, and then comes again to begin the World with nothing and then he thrives. Our SAVIOUR hath confirmed this Notion to us, in his Parable Luke 7.41. of the two Debtors; both which the Creditors forgave frankly, to the one five hundred pence, to the other fifty. Peter judged that he to whom moſt was forgiven would love moſt, and our SAVIOUR told him, he had rightly judged. You ſhall ordinarily obſerve in the world thoſe Chriſtians, whom the LORD hath taken out of a State of ſenſuality and profaneneſs more warm for GOD, in all Acts of Devotion, and Piety, than thoſe whoſe Converſion is more inſenſible, and whoſe Life hath been more like perſons Sanctified from the Womb.
3. Nor doth the Reaſon of this lye ſo deep, but the Eye of Humane Reaſon may pierce very far into it; for Gratitude being the great principle of Obedience, in reaſon, the greater the Love is which the Soul hath experienced, and the greater the Senſe is which the Soul hath of that Love, the higher the obligation in point of Gratitude muſt riſe. Now though every forgiven Soul hath much forgiven, yet it cannot be denied but ſome have more forgiven to the… than others. Sins are not equal either for kin…, or number. Now (ſaith our SAVIOUR) they who have much forgiven will Love much. B… beſides, the Senſe of this forgiveneſs, is ordinarily upon that Soul moſt to whom moſt hath be… forgiven. The change upon the Heart is mo…e evident, and the work of Divine Power a… Goodneſs in it more evident; and ordinarily ſuch perſons are made to cry out of the belly of Hell, before the LORD hears them; they feel more wounds in their Conſciences, more terrors upon their Spirits, which infinitely heighten the rate of forgiving Mercy in ſuch a ſoul, and conſequently more ſtrongly oblige them to all th… Duty which they owe unto GOD.
4. Certainly, were this Obſervation (ſo far as it relates to the VVeaver, or to any other Tradeſman) is juſtified, it ought to lay a great Obligation upon them to the Service of GOD, and all Acts of Obedience by which their Gratitude may be manifeſted. Their Hearts ſhould be taken up with the admiration of the Divi…e Goodneſs; for they will find it eaſier to ſee the thing that it is ſo, than to underſtand how an… why it is ſo. The freedom of Divine Goodneſs, is not onelyonly ſeen in the effluxes, and influences of Divine Grace bringing Salvation, but alſo in the different Proportions of the morſels of Bread, which GOD cauſeth in this Life to be caryed us. It is not every one that begins with … little Stock that grows rich: though ten for one of thoſe that do wax Rich raiſe it from a little. Should not the Rich Man, that is made Rich, look back and ſay with Jacob, Geneſis 32.10. LORD! I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the mercies and all thy truth, which thou hast ſhewn …nto thy Servant for with my Staff have I paſſed over this Jordan, and now am I become two hands. Should not they ſay, LORD! my Family was ſmall in England, and little eſteemed of? I came to Town a Poor boy; I had not 10, 20, 30 l. to begin with; GOD hath made my ten pounds twenty, my thirty pounds ſo many Hundreds perhaps: whiles in the time I have lived in the City, I have ſeen many a Rich Tradeſman melt to nothing, run the Country, die in Goal; many others are as poor as I was, they are poor ſtill, want Bread for their Families, I am full and rich and have need of nothing but a more thankful Heart. What hath made the difference but only free Mercy? To whom poſſibly GOD hath ſhewed Severity, to me Goodneſs. LORD, what ſhall I render to thee? What an Obligation ſhould this lay upon ſuch perſons, to be Rich in good works; to do good and to diſtribute, to give portions to Six and alſo to Seven, in thankfulneſs to GOD, who hath given ſuch a portion to them. My Heart-akes to ſee perſons ſo ſcanty-handed as to Piety and Charity to whom GOD hath been ſo liberal. Is it not the too ordinary Courſe of Men whom GOD hath thus exalted, Aſſoon a… they get a little eſtate to think of nothing but purchaſing coats of Arms for their Families, adorning their Houſes with Rich houſhold-ſtuff, providing only great portions for their Children, and looking out great matches without regard to the Religion of the perſons to whom they Marry them? This is the great vanity of the Son… of Men (I tremble to ſay, ſuch of them as I alſo hope Grace hath made the Sons of GOD) that when themſelves have to an old age uſed nothing but a rake, to ſcrape together a great Eſtate, their laſt ambition is to purchaſe a Fork, for a Luxurious Child or Children, to ſcatter abroad all they have got. Oh how doth this unthankful generation requite the liberality and bounty of a good and gracious GOD toward them! How ill do they requite the GOD of all their mercies!
5. Our wiſe GOD foreſaw this Vanity in the Hearts of his People, and therefore cautioned his People. Deuteronomy 8.11. Beware leſt thou forget the LORD thy GOD. verſe 17. And ſay in thy Heart; My Power and the might of my Hand hath gotten me this Wealth. But thou ſhalt Remember the LORD thy GOD for it is he who giveth thee power to get Riches. There are three or four Fountains from which the Riches of all Men flow, Inheritance, Marriage, Gift, Trading. The Power of GOD is eminently ſeen in them all; as to the two former they are confeſt in two ordinary Engliſh Sayings: 1. GOD makes heirs, 2. Matches are made in Heaven. Nor I do think the Unſearchable Providence of GOD more ſeen in any two things in the world. For that of making Heirs a thouſand inſtances might be given. My ſelf knows a Perſon of Honour and great Eſtate, betwixt whom and his Eſtate (if I Remember Right) were 18 or 19. did not GOD make this Noble Perſon the Heir? The influence of GOD upon Marriage is a moſt Unaccountable Thing; the Heireſs, or VVoman with a great Eſtate, can give herſelf no account why ſhe Loves and Chuſeth ſuch a Man, yet ſhe cannot but do it; She muſt make him her Husband, though it may be, all her Friends and Neighbours wonder what ſhe ſees in him. Not many grow Rich by Gifts, but they who do ſo may eaſily ſee the Hand of GOD there too; an Eſtate is given to one a Stranger, nothing akin, only becauſe he is of the Rich Teſtators Name; to another, out of a peculiar kindneſs and fancy, of which the receiver can give none, or but a very ſlender account. For an Eſtate got by Trading, the Power of GOD enabling the Tradeſman to get Riches, is, if not more, yet every whit as evident. Who is it that ſends more Cuſtomers to one Shop than to another? who gives one a better Judgement, a better correſpondent, a better fancy than another? Now certainly th…t GOD who giveth me power to get Wealth, hath a Reaſonable Right alſo to give me a Law how to uſe it when I have gotten it; and it is becauſe we ſee him not in th… Gift but ſay in our Heart, Our power, our wit, and he migh… of our Hand, hath gotten us this great Wealth: O…, our Heart could never be lifted up, and we forget the LORD our GOD.
Laſtly, This Obſervation (certainly) ſhould deliver us of any anxious Sollicitude for the poſterity we ſhall leave behind us, and reduce it to no more than a pious and moderate provident care for them. I have deſired to make it my Rule, never to be further ſollicitous for my Children, than to give them a Good Education in Learnin… Arts and Trades, ſo as if they will but uſe their Diligent Hand by the ſupervening Bleſſing of GOD upon them, they may have whereon to live in the World. I have had many arguments that have induced me to it: 1. I have ſaid to my ſ…lf, Who am I who thus labour and am ſo ſo…licitous for my Child? VVhat did I begin the World with? GOD hath given me enough and to ſpare. It is very probable that had I began with two or three thouſand pounds, I h…d bee… a worſer Man than I am. VVhy ſhould I diſtruſt GOD for my Child, who have had ſo much Experience of him for my ſelf?
2. Secondly, I have obſerved; That ſuch ſollicitude in Parents is generally inconſiſtent with the performance of thoſe duties which a Man oweth to GOD, to himſelf and to his neighbour. Men cannot allow themſelves Decent Food and Rayment; they have no Money to lay out upon the moſt truly Pious and Charit…ble uſes, becauſe they moſt provide great Eſtates for their Children. Oh horrible Vanity! O Miſerable Unbelief! 3. Thirdly I have ſaid to my ſelf; For whom do I thus ſcrape? For my Child who poſſibly may never Live to Need it. The German Story tells us of one Babo Abenſpergius (if I Remember his Name right) who brought into the Preſence of the Emperour, Threeſcore and Ten Sons begotten from his own Body, who Lived to ſee them all in their Graves. But if my Children do Live I do not know whether they will prove Wiſe-men or Fools, Frugal Men or Sots; if the Former, let me provide what I will, it will all be too little; if the Latter, let me leave them Little, if they have Education, it will certainly bring forth enough, if not abundance. This very Meditation checked the Toilſome Labour of the VViſeſt Man under the Sun: Eccleſiasticus 2.18. Yea I Hated all the Labour which I had taken under the Sun, becauſe I ſhould leave it, unto the Man which ſhould be after me, and (ſaith he) who knoweth whether he ſhall be a Wiſe-man or a Fool, yet ſhall he have Rule over all my Labour; wherein I have Laboured, and wherein I have ſhewed my ſelf Wiſe under the S… … This is alſo Vanity.
4. Again I have argued thus with my ſelf, It is the diligent Hand and the bleſſing of GOD added to it, which maketh Rich. If my Child b… bred up to an honeſt Occupation or C…lling, and he hath GODS bleſſing, he ſhall be Rich, though he begins but with a little; how many examples do I ſee of it! On the other ſide, Let me leave my Child ch…ſts of Gold, or Silver; If the bleſſing of GOD be not with and upon him, it will all melt away like dew before the Sun: If he be not provident and diligent it will come to nothing; the leaving of him a great Eſt…te to begin the VVorld with, is ordinarily a temptation to Young Men, to Luxury, which will hinder them of GODS bleſſing, or at leaſt to L…zineſs as it maketh them look on themſelves not ſo much concerned to labour. Theſe thing have over-ruled me into a ſteady reſolution; ſo to live upon what the LORD hath given me, as not to deny my ſelf, my Wife, Children, or Family, what is Neceſſary or decent for me or them; and in my expences to abate nothing as to Food and Rayment but Luxury. 2. Not to withold my Hand to the full proportion of my Eſtate, either as to any uſe which my Conſcience ſhall tell me is either Pious or Charitable. For my Children, to neglect nothing to their Education which may make them neceſſary to, or Ornaments in the VVorld; above all to breed them up in the higheſt degree I can of the Knowledge, and …dmoni…ion of the LORD; and without any further care to leave to my Children, what ſhall Remain after all theſe Reaſonable and Religious Deductions. I had rather my Children ſhould not live, than live to the diſhonour of GOD, and of no further uſe to the World than to eat up the fruits of the Earth. To this I am encouraged by this Obſervation, That uſu…lly thoſe who begin with l…ſt (eſpecially upon a previous, Religious and ſober Education) thrive beſt in the World, and diſhonour GOD leaſt in their converſations.
The Poem.
Falſe heart! why ſayst my Children cannot live,
Ʋnleſs I give
Them thouſands when I die? Are there not more
Who are made Poor
From great than ſmaller Stocks? Plenty, oft doth
But prove a moth.
Heaps left by Cov'tous worldling God turns o're,
To pay their Score.
The Young Man's Soul, while's body too high fed,
Choaks in a Bed
Of lazy Down; its native powers, and worth
Sleep; not put forth.
Fury gives arms: Neceſſity gives wit,
Nor can he ſit;
Who hath no bread to eat. Nor can he play;
For whom the day
Too little is to get what he muſt have,
Or elſe a grave.
In what I have, then let my heart rejoyce:
Let not the Voice
Of ſcraping Churles out from my lips proceed:
There is no need
I ſhould deny my ſelf, or needful Food,
Or decent good:
That I ſhould churliſhly drive from my door
The truly Poor;
Or when GODS cauſe requires, that I ſhould ſay
I cannot pay;
I ſhall too little then to Children leave:
GOD may bereave
Me of them all; they may prove ſuch as will
My gettings ſpill,
And me reproach. I would not leave a groat
For th' Drunkards throat.
If they prove good will not my GOD provide?
Who e're eſpied
A Righteous Father's righteous Son in want?
Sin may him Sc…nt,
(His own, or Fathers Sin;) But if that he
Ʋnrighteous be,
He cannot live on what I leave. GODS Curſe
Melts a great purſe.
He may have debts of mine to pay, GOD ſhall
Diſcharge them all
Out of my Inventory. I am gone,
But my Poor Son
Muſt whatſoe're I've gotten ill reſtore
Ʋnto the Poor,
And other Creditors. Oh! let me be
My own Truſtee.
My own Executor, before I die:
Let every Cry
Against me ſatisfied be; Let none
Challenge my Son;
Let me GODS bleſſing leave him, that's enough;
If he hath more, but one Poor piece of Stuff.
CHAP. III. In the Weaving Trade as well as others, Sloth ruines, as well as Rioting and Luxury.
Obſervation. 3.
1. I Obſerve (and this is not peculiar to the Weavers Trade, but common to it with any other) that there are two great cauſes of Mens Ruine; Luxury is one, but Slothfulneſs is the other; and it may admit a diſpute which of theſe Ruineth the moſt. Solomon ſaith, The Slothful Man ſhall be under Tribute, when the diligent Man beareth rule, Proverbs 12.24. and again; He that is Slothful in his work is Brother to him that is a great Waſter: their Relation is from the Common tendency, and exit of them both. I have Obſerved ſome Tradeſmen never in their ſhops; they are either on Horſeback; Hunting or courſing, or in Inns, or Taverns, tippling, drinking, or Gaming. Over a few Years I hear of them in the Go…l, I ſee over their doors, This Shop is to be let…r, their places know theſe fools no more. I have obſerved others, chargeable with none of theſe Enormities; but ſeldom or never in their Shops, C…releſs of their Buſineſs, ſleeping till noon, ſpending much of their time in Idle Diſcourſes, or prating; ſoon after I have heard they alſo changed their habitation for a Goal. Men wonder, ſome ſay ſuch a one was never a bad Husband, he ſcarce ever ſpent a penny at an Alehouſe. Inconſiderate Men that do not attend to that of Solomon; That he who is Slothful in his work, though he be not, yet he is Brother to a great Waſter. There is a waſte of Time as well as Silver, and the Drunkard loſeth much more by the loſs of the Tune he ſpends at the Alehouſe than of the Money which he there ſpends. The Sluggard that puts his Hand in his boſome never pulls it out full of Silver. The VVorld is a thing which will be attended, a Miſtreſs that can never be had without a Due Courting. Beſides, the idle Perſon always hath the Curſe of GOD at his heels: GOD hath ſaid, write this Man a begger, when he ſaid, In the Sweat of thy face thou ſhalt eat thy Bread; and the Apoſtle when he Commanded, That thoſe that would not labour ſhould not eat, hath ſhut him out of good Chriſtians Charity, and forbade him the poor Mans basket. The idle Perſon is the only one for whom the bountiful GOD hath made no proviſion. GOD hath Provided a basket into which every good Man will put ſomething, for him that cannot live by his Hands. But for the idle Perſon GOD hath provided nothing, but a bridewell here, and an hell hereafter.
2. And is it not thus in the Spiritual Trade? There are ſome that cannot go to Hell without a Drum and Trumpet before them; in proclaiming their Sin as Sodom, they proclaim their Damnation alſo, and ſo as he that can but Read a Line in Scripture, may Run and Read it. GOD … damning them ſhall but anſwer their frequent prayers or imprecation in that pagan dialect. The miſchief of it is, that theſe Men will no ſuffer others to go to Heaven if they can help, meer dogs in the Churches manger, they abhor the Name and thing of Religion; yet will preſcribe to others, and be the Informers againſt them for VVorſhipping that GOD whom their Souls impudently defy and contemn. Theſe now, like prophane Eſau, for a meſs of pottage deſpiſe their birthright. Forlorn and deſperate Souls, how juſt ſhall their damnation be! But Oh! that Hell might open its Mouth for no…e but theſe prodigies of abominations. There are others Steal themſelves into a Bottomleſs Pit, they do not ſo openly Deſpiſe: But they Neglect the great Salvation of the Goſpel. Th… Men are not Drunkards, no Dammees, no profane Swearers and Curſers, no Adulterers; but there is one no more belongs to them, they are no Saints, a formal lazy ſort of profeſſors, that have a mind to go to Hell and no Man ſhall diſcern it. The voice of Swearing, Curſing, Blaſpheming, is not heard in their Houſes; but neither is the voice of Prayer hard, they do not drink but they will ſleep themſelves into Damnation. For the buſineſs of Repentance, Faith, New-obedience, Mortifications of Luſts, Self-denial, taking up the Croſs, following of CHRIST, they Underſtand none of theſe things nor Mind them at all. It may be they go to Church, but 'tis all one as if they ſtaid at home. The Sermon hath no more taſte in their Souls than the white of an Egg. The firſt are a cholerick kind of Sinners, theſe a Phlegmatick ſort: The End of both will be the ſame; neither do the work which GOD hath given them to do, nor finiſh the Courſe which GOD hath given them to run. They are both going the ſame Road to a bottomleſs pit; only the firſt gallop, theſe only …og on: The firſt may come to their journey's End a little ſooner but at Night they will both meet
3. Oh, Let the honeſt Weaver conſider this! That as his work in his Loom will no more be done by ſitting ſtill, and ſleeping in his Loom, than by breaking his Threeds and throwing his Shuttle out of the window: So the great buſineſs of his Salvation may as much miſcarry, by a neglect, as by doing what is directly oppoſite to it; when he ſees a Man Undone in hi… Trade through meer neglect of it, going loitering up and down and doing nothing. Seneca (if I Remember right) though he were an Heathen complained of time loſt four ways▪ Either by doing nothing or doing ill (which is worſe than nothing) or by doing aliud ſomething that is not our buſineſs, or by doing that which is good in an ill Manner. A Meditation worthy of a Chriſtian; he loitereth in his Spiritual Employ, not only who doth what is ill, of who doth juſt nothing, but he alſo who doth too much of other things, or good things in a ſlight, Careleſs, perfunctory manner. Methinks when the VVeaver ſeeth his Neighbour ruined by Lazineſs, or perfunctory ſlovenly doing of his VVork, he might Reaſonably Reflect upon his Soul and ſay; My Soul take heed thou alſo doeſt not thus periſh.
The Peom.
Two things the ruin of the Tradeſman be,
Sloth, Luxury:
One throws away whatever he doth gain,
And ſhould maintain
His family, their belly and their back
Smarts for his Sack.
He whores, he plays away his needful food,
And drinks their blood:
After a while, he counts; All he hath won
Is, Hee's undone.
The other idle at his Shop-door ſtands
Folding his Hands;
'Tis death to him to work, Hee'l alſo come
To the ſame doom.
Both die in Jailes, though theſe do faſter go,
Others more Slow.
Tis but the ſame caſe, in the Spiritual Trade:
Some men are made
Heirs of Hell, by an exceſs of Riot;
Others by Quiet
In Active Negligence; ſome do proclaim
Their open Shame,
And tell men whither they are bound; They tell
All they'r for Hell.
Others (as they think) with ſome little wit
Steal to the pit.
Some wretches cry GOD damn me; Some would have
GOD them to Save,
But will not ask it; wages they expect
But do Neglect
The work, to which Heaven muſt be the pay
At th' Judgement-day.
My Soul! Shun both thoſe rocks, thou ſaileſt well,
And avoid'ſt Hell.
If thou comeſt to Hell at laſt, what ere,
Why thou comeſt there,
Will no refreſhing be, to thee to think;
Whether by Drink,
By Cheating, Swearing, Murder, or by leſs
Ʋnrighteouſneſs
Or by neglect of what thou ſhouldſt have done,
Thou beeſt undone.
Hell will be Hell, both unto the profane
And careleſs Man.
CHAP. IV. Some work away their living, Some truſt it away.
Obſervation 4.
1. MIlle modis morimur. It is an old Obſervation, that though we all come one way into the VVorld and that through Difficulties, yet we die many ways. There are more than one way indeed by which men come by their Trading Stocks, yet not ſo many as there are by which men may loſe it, and prove Beggers. VVe have already conſidered the two main, Luxury and Lazineſs, but theſe are not all. I obſerve that ſome work away what they have. 'Tis pity, that the induſtrious Hand ſhould make poor; but ſo it is in the VVorld very often: Either they toil in Stuffs out of faſhion, and not vendible, or they do their work ſlovenly, or they truſt to a Market for their works, and fail; or ſome other thing Happens that the Men are undone by working ſlovenly, or Indiſcreetly: VVhen-as there were no ſuch way to live, as working, did they work the works which are acceptable in that time, or work Handſomly, and prudently. VVe by Experience ſee many men may be undone, as well by working, as by Rioting and playing.
2. I obſerve again that many are Undone by Truſting; Either becauſe the Perſons they truſt are not Reſponſal, or becauſe they give longer time than their Stock will bear, or the Perſons they truſt are Unfaithfull to their VVords.
3. Methinks I ſee foreign, ſomething Analogous to this in our Spiritual Concerns: Some loſe Heaven by a Vain and Groundleſs truſting, ſome by an Unwary and Ill-circumſtanced working. Go through a whole City of Profeſſors, and ask them how they hope hereafter to be ſaved; they will tell you, they hope, they reſt, they truſt in the LORD JESUS CHRIST; whenas too many who ſay ſo CHRIST will be no better than a broken Staff, and a bruiſed Reed, which if a Man leans upon it will only run into, and wound his Hand. Not that Our Bleſſed LORD may not be Truſted, for He is able to ſave to the utmoſt thoſe who by Faith come unto Him; not that He is not Faithfull, For he is Faithfull who hath Promiſed (ſaith the Apoſtle,) but becauſe they had no ground to truſt in him Living, and being reſolved to Live and do as they do. No Man can lay a Natural Claim to Heaven, no Man can challenge the Salvation of his Soul as a Debt to him: we are told that Eternal Life is the Gift of GOD, and being ſo, none hath any pretence of ground to truſt in GOD and CHRIST for it, but upon ſome promiſe. For upon this Hypotheſis that All men ſhall not be ſaved, who can pretend to any lively Hope, to any juſtly-ſounded Confidence, unleſs he hath our LORDS Word to ſhow, wherein he hath Promiſed, that though Topheth be prepared of Old for ſome, yet it is not for him, he is one for whom the Kingdom is prepared? Now none can pretend a Right to a limited and condition…l Promiſe, until he findeth fulfilled … him, or that he hath fulfilled the Conditio… to the performance of which the Good thing promiſed is annexed. VVere it not Ridiculous, ſuppoſing one of us had promiſed a great Reward to any that would do ſuch a Piece of VVork, for to talk of truſting in us for the Reward without any doing of the Work, eſpecially doing the quite contrary; Even thoſe things to the doing of which we have threatned the greateſt ſeverities we can Uſe? GOD hath indeed made many great and Precious Promiſes of Eternal Life and Salvation, to thoſe who believe in JESƲS CHRIST, who work Righteouſneſs, who do the things which pleaſe him, &c. he hath as planly ſaid; The fearful, the Ʋnbelieving the Abominable, the Murtherers, Whoremongers, Sorcerers,, Idolaters and all Lyars, ſhall have their part in the lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone, Revelation 21.8. He hath bidden us not be deceived, 1 Corinthians 6.9. neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate perſons, nor abuſers of themſelves with mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous perſons, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inherit the Kingdom of GOD. If notwithſtanding any ſuch perſon will pretend to truſt in CHRIST for Salvation, he abuſeth his own Soul, and by his preſumptuous truſting runs himſelf upon Damnation. A preſumptuous confidence deſtroys its ten thouſands.
4. And are there not others who work themſelves into Hell? what ſhall we ſay to Iſrael of whom the Apoſtle teſtifieth, That though they followed after the Law of Righteouſneſs yet they attained not to the Law of Righteouſneſs: wherefore? becauſe they ſought it not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. There was indeed a way to Heaven revealed by meer working, but now (ſaith the Apoſtle) the Righteouſneſs of GOD is revealed from Faith to Faith. Many will not Underſtand this, and look ſtill for nothing but a Legal Righteouſneſs. Have you not ſometimes ſeen it thus with a Poor Bee, it comes home where the Hive was, the Hive is removed to another place, the Bee knows it not nor will ſtir to look for it, but there lies grovelling upon the old place till it dies. Do not you ſee it in the VVeavers Trade? there were ſome kinds of Stuffs heretofore (poſſibly in the time when this or that Man ſerved his Apprentiſhip, that were in Faſhion, and there was a great Market for them, and many grew Rich by them; but they have been out a long time, the dull Tradeſman conſiders it not, but goes on ſtill making them, and is very buſy, but when he hath done, there is no Market for them. GOD of old ſaid to Adam, do this and live: Salvation was exhited upon the Term of working only; GOD hath altered the caſe. Now the Promiſe is to him that believeth as well as worketh, and without Faith (ſaith the Apoſtle) it is impoſſible to pleaſe GOD: many heedleſs ſouls conſider not this; they work and work themſelves into Hell. GOD will hereafter ſay unto them, VVho hath required this at your Hands? though (it may be) GOD did require and doth require ſtill the doing of the things which they do (for ſo he did require thoſe Duties conſidered materially, of which yet he ſaith, who hath required them?) but he hath required them to be done in Faith, out of a principle of Evangelical Love, in a ſincerity of Obedience, having a ſingle Reſpect and Eye to his Glory; not being done under theſe circumſtances, they are things he hath not required, and no better than cutting off a Dogs Neck and the Offering up of Swines Blood (as GOD himſelf ſpeaketh of the Jewiſh ſervices irregularly performed. There's no Market in Heaven now for meer Works more than for an idle inoperative Faith. The Papist the Formaliſt, all Ruine themſelves by working: who ever looks for a Salvation by a meer legal Righteouſneſs, or by a Superficial outſide performance, will find himſelf a Begger at laſt, when CHRIST ſhall ſay to thoſe that ſhall plead; They have prayed in his name, and have propheſied in his name, and in his name caſt out Devils; Depart from me, I know you not, you workers of Iniquity.
5. What then, ſhall a Man be ſaved without Works? by no means, nor by meer works, we are ſaved by Faith, (ſaith the Apoſtle) and Faith (ſaith the ſame Apoſtle) worketh by Love: Works dipt in the Blood of CHRIST muſt bring a Soul to Heaven; when we have talked what we can, he that Believeth will and muſt work, but every one that worketh doth not Believe; and, He that Believeth not is Damned already (ſaith our SAVIOUR): Happy is he that can compound both theſe as well in Practice as in Judgement, but he is miſerable who divides what GOD hath put together. I always thought it a good Rule for all Chriſtians, to believe as much as if Works had no influence upon his Salvation, and to work as much as if Heaven were to be earned by meer VVorking. GOD forbid, that we ſhould ſay VVorks are Needleſs, becauſe we ſay Faith in CHRIST i… needful.
The Poem.
May Men by working be undone
How many Hazards do they run,
Who trade for bread?
What needs Sollicitude? Then thus,
Let's truſt him more who ſaith to us,
We ſhall be fed.
But truſting may undoe us too;
Say then, what ſhal poor Tradeſmen do?
Truſt warily,
And work hard too; for work and truſt,
Together make the Tradeſman muſt,
When others fly.
Say not that in the Spiritual trade,
Any by truſt are happy made,
By truſt alone.
Truſt, without ground to truſt upon,
Is but a bold preſumption,
Men by't undone.
But thoſe who can believe, and do,
What-ever GOD them calleth to,
Shall happy be:
And when the Solifidians fail,
And Papiſts too, he ſhall Entail
Felicity
Ʋnto his Soul, which neither Faith,
Nor works alone, (ſo Scripture ſaith)
Can ſave from Hell.
Faith juſtifies alone: but yet
Is not alone. Works follow it;
Faith bears the bell,
Becauſe it lyeth hold on him,
Who juſtifies the Soul from Sin:
Whoſe only name
Is that, by which we ſaved be;
Without whom to felicity
None ever came.
Happy is he who doth compound
What in the holy writ is found,
By GOD combin'd:
But wo to him who dares to part
(To gratify ſophiſtick art,)
What he hath join'd.
O Let my Soul believe as much,
As if my Faith alone were ſuch,
As could it ſave:
But let it work as much alſo,
As if't ſhould for what it can do,
It's Heaven have.
CHAP. V. Ʋſually thoſe have their Eyes a broad moſt about them: an… when alone, are moſt happy i… their Judgements and Inventions and thrive moſt.
Obſervations 5.
1. I Obſerve a twofold Spirit amongſt Tradeſmen, and as amongſt other… ſo particularly amongſt Weavers. Some are Men of a Poor private obſcure Spirit: Their Eyes look right before them; that's all: they have been bred to this or that Trade to be uſed in this or that method, and they Jog on, and on, as we ſay, buy, make, ſell, the ſame Commodities their M…ſters did, neither will turn to the right Hand nor to the left. Such now as theſe I have ſeen in the World with much adoe quitting their teeth, and their Taylor, by all their labour. Others I have obſerved of brisker Spirits, their Eyes are behind them and before them, and round about them; they look upon their Apprentiſhip not as a ſeven Years ſervice to their particular Maſter, but to the World, advantaging them to a general knowledge. This Spirit in a VVeaver, makes him underſtand that he was not bound Seven Years to learn to make either, Raſhes or Tametts, or Cheynies, or any other particular kind of Stuff; But the miſtery of Weaving, to know how to make any Stuff. This Man conſidereth the VVorld Rightly, the whole ſcheme of it paſſing away, the ſurface of it now wearing off, new Eyes, new fancies daily Riſing in it to be pleaſed, and accordingly accommodates himſelf to it, and hath his Eyes about him and his Reaſon within him, his Eyes obſerving what Stuffs are moſt worn, moſt acceptable to the Eye of the preſent Generation, and to them he Sets himſelf: This Man uſually thrives better than his Neighbour.
2. I Obſerve again, that in Trades, and more eſpecially in the Weavers Trade, thoſe who have the beſt Inventions, and can beſt compare things with things, and who have the beſt Judgements, thrive beſt: Indeed Judgement is that which makes a Man excel, let his way and Courſe of Life be what it will. It is that which makes the Scholar, that which makes the Tradeſman, and the Merchant; indeed every one, let his Courſe and way of Life be of what kind it will. The VVeaver muſt judge of the beſt Yarns, the beſt VVorkman, the moſt acceptable Colours, or compoſitions of Yarns, and Mixtures of Colours; the beſt Markets, and of many other things. Invention alſo hath a great influence, though not in all, yet in many ways and Courſ…s of Livelihoods. It hath a great influence upon the Excellency of a Scholar, and ſo of a VVeaver. For there is much to be found out in VVeaving; indeed in moſt Trad…s and ways of Livelihood, more than is already diſcovered. Every day teacheth another, and brings forth new notions in Philoſophy, in Phyſick, in Mathematicks, and ſo likewiſe in Methods of Trading, and dealing in the world: he that will only Run a Round, and go in a Track, will find that he doth but tire himſelf to little purpoſe, hunting the World which in the mean time …ieth from him.
3. I obſ…rve thirdly, that GOD rarely giveth to any one, all thoſe gifts which make one to excel in any Courſe of Life. One Man hath an excellent fancy and invention, but poſſibly no Judgement: another hath an excellent Judgement upon anothers fancy and invention, but a dull and heavy Invention of his own; a third hath neither, but a nimble Hand at his work; a fourth hath a neat Hand, and doth what he doth Curiouſly and Exactly, he hath no dexterity, but is wonderfully ſlow at it. Some one Man of many hath all united, he hath a good fancy and Judgement, he is both neat and quick, &c.
4. I cannot but obſerve that in the Spiritual Trade, there is ſomething which beareth a Proportion unto this. I know, Truth is of great antiquity, and the Oldeſt Propoſition is the beſt, the Old way is the good way. But the Corruption of ages hath been like Snow upon a path; it requires ſome ſearch, Reaſon and Judgement and Pains too, to find out where that ſame old way lay. New Lights are derided, and New Truth counted but a Contradiction in ad…e…to. For really no Truth is new, but co…vous to that GOD who hath ſtil…d himſelf, the Tru…h. There have been two and but two Remarkeable Innovations in Religion warrantable: Warrantable, becauſe made by GOD himſelf. The one upon the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai: The other upon the publiſhing the Goſpel; for though there was a worſhip of GOD, and that by Sacrifices, before Aaron's time (when th… world was 2000 Years Old and upward) yet he undertakes a great Task that will undertak… to prove the whole order of the Judaical Worſhip in Practice before that time. CHRIST altere… nothing at his Coming in the Moral Law, bu… it is moſt certain that he abrogated the Law contained in Ordinances, the whole ritual Law; and inſtituted a Goſpel-VVorſhip, which ſhall never more be altered. It is certain alſo that the Canon of Scripture was not ſealed till after CHRISTS Aſcenſion into Heaven though we ſ…y he added no new Moral Precepts. Thus f…r all the Chriſtian VVorld i… agreed, that the whole Syſteme of Divine Trut… is revealed in the Scriptures of the Old or New Teſtament, and the whole method of VVorſhi… muſt be found there; though of it ſomething i… to be learned from Precept, ſomething from Example, ſome things are plainly ſet down others muſt be gathered by conſequences in the uſe of our Reaſon. Hence the variety of men judgements, and different apprehenſions in the things of GOD. Now there are ſome Chriſtians, who either have not or will not uſe their power in ſearching out Truth, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual, but take it to be enough fo… them. To believe as the Church believeth, and to do what the Church bid them do; having no regard to the Apoſtle commanding them, 1. To prove all things, and hold fast that which it Good, and again, to try the Spirits whether they be of GOD or no, &c. I Obſerve theſe Chriſtians little improving in Knowledge, Faith, … Holineſs. The woman of Samaria, John 4. was of this ſize in Religion. Our Fathers VVorſhipped in this Mountain (ſaith ſhe) Sic a parribus accepimus (ſaid he in the Council) and met with a ſmart anſwer—Immo Errantes ab Errantibus; Erring Children from Erring Parents. But now there are others who underſtand their Souls were given them for other purpoſes: If Paul preached they will with thoſe well-born Bereans, ſearch the Scripture, to ſee if it be Truth which he ſaith; they are iniquiſitive after Truth, and will Examine all their Principles and practices by the touch-ſtone of Holy Write, bringing them to the Law and the Teſtimony: Theſe are the thriving Chriſtians, and theſe alone have the promiſe. If thou cryeſt after knowledge, and lifteſt up thy voice for Ʋnderſtanding, if thou ſeekest Her as Silver, and ſearcheth for Her as for hidden treaſure: Then ſhalt thou Ʋnderſtand the fear of the LORD, and find the Knowledge of thy GOD, Proverbs. 2.3, 4, 5. The Promiſe of Improvement in the Knowledge and Fear of the LORD, is not made to dull Souls, that believe all that is told them, and Impoſed by confident Perſons upon them, but to him that Examines, Seeks, Proves, &c. He is next doo… to an Infidel that only believes Divine Propoſitions, in the belief, denial, or misbelief of which his Salvation depends, meerly becauſe his Father believed ſo or ſo practiſed; or becauſe an… number of Men (call them by what name you pleaſe ſo long as you allow them fallible Men) ſo Impoſe upon him. Let Men mock ſo long as they pleaſe, though there be no New truth, yet there are New Revelations and diſcoveries of Truth made to various Perſons in various ages; and there is New light breaks in, which is but a beam from that GOD who is light, only before that time eclipſed by the Interpoſitions of Ignorance and Superſtition, and the other variety of Mens luſts and paſſions; and the thriving Chriſtian will ſpend his time in winnowing the Chaff from the Wheat.
5. We have Reaſon to adore the wiſdom of GOD in the partial Diſtribution of his Gifts. The Apoſtle admireth it as to the Spiritual Gifts, 1 Corinthians 12.8. To one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wiſdom; to another the Word of Knowledge, by the ſame Spirit; to another Faith by the ſame Spirit; to another the Gifts of Healing by the ſame Spirit: To another the working of Miracles, to another Propheſy, to another Diſcerning of Spirits, to another divers kinds of Tongues, to another the Interpetation of Tongues. The Apoſtle goes on, ſhewing that this various Diſtribution of Spiritual Gifts, was it which did or might convince them, of their uſefulneſs one to another; That as in the natural Body thoſe members which are more feeble, may appear neceſſary, the ſame Divine VViſdom we may ſee in GODS Diſtribution of theſe Gifts which are of a lower order: One Weaver hath an excellent Fancy to invent, another hath a more excellent Judgement; one works more neatly, another more nimbly: if every Weaver were Good at all the parts of his work, they would not Underſtand their uſefulneſs one to another, nor the need they have one of another; but in the variety of diſpenſation of theſe Gifts each Man is commended, and his uſefulneſs diſcovered to his neighbour, ſo as the head cannot ſay to the foot, nor the foot to the Hand, I have no need of thee. If Men would but conſider this, we ſhould not have ſo many brutes as we have, who controul the VViſdom of GOD in biting and devouring, in ſeeking advantages to rifle, and plunder one another, as if this were the way to promove the proſperity of a place, which indeed is the direct way to turn it into a nettle-buſh. GOD ſo ordereth his Gifts, as that one Man hath his ſubordinacy to another: And indeed this is ſeen by Men uſed in Trades generally. The troublers of GODS heritage are generally ſuch as live in Alehouſes, or whoſe imployment is much the ſame as of Caterpillars, to eat up every green herb while they are too lazy to plant any; a Generation from whom as GOD hath no honour, ſo their Country hath no further profit than what ariſeth from an impoſt upon the Salt, and Spirit of Ʋrine, or the Beer or Wine from whence it proceeds.
The Poem.
Old Truth, like Wine is always beſt,
A notion can't be true,
And alſo new,
'Tis gray-hair'd time which must attest
What-ere is Sacred truth,
Error hath Youth
Yet 'tis not th' old, but th' oldeſt age
Alone, can justify
Th' Antiquity
Of Notions. From the firſt each page
Hath foully blurred been
By Luſt, and Sin
When CHRIST and his Apostles were
In our Meridian,
Truth Shin'd alone.
But ſince that they did leave our Sphere,
A darkneſs fell upon
Each Nation.
Though by degrees yet thou began
To riſe, the foggy miſt
Of Antichriſt.
'Twas in the Apoſtles time. The Man
Whom they call'd Th' man of ſin,
Did's work begin.
His work was to deform Truth's face,
The good old pathe's to cover
None might paſs over;
To blind the ways of Truth and Grace
That none might ſee or know
Where CHRIST did go.
Hence later ages laboured have,
Reſisting unto Blood
Thoſe that withſtood:
To dig the truth out of its grave,
Deſirous but to ſee
Old Veritie.
Hence Truth which in it ſelf's not new;
Yet unto us appears
Not full of years.
The Notions ſo appearing grew
In the Old paradiſe,
Where grew no lies
Only the Winter ſuffered not
There bloſſoms nor did ſuits
Their Bearing fruit.
Their lasting root, yet did not,
But watched a better hour
To Bud and Flower.
Whoſo deſpiſeth Truth, becauſe
It new to him doth ſhow,
Shall never grow,
Nor Ʋnderſtand the Sacred Laws,
Which each new day expounds
On better grounds.
CHAP. VI. Of the Various Cauſes of the Decay of Trade.
Obſervations 6.
THE Cauſes of the decay or abatement o… Trade, is a noble Enquiry, and eſpecially for us who Live upon a Spot of Earth that is Incompaſſed with the Sea. VVhat-ever they may do that Live on a Continent, it is Certain that thoſe who Live in Iſlands (if they have not a Sufficiency within themſelves) cannot Live without Trade: nor can any people without it Live happily. The people are very thin in any place, if they be not too many to be Employed in meer Tilling the Ground, and making neceſſaries for one another who are Natives of the Place: ſo as either a great number muſt be Idle (which is the Bane of any Place) or they muſt be employed in providing for other Places, which have not what we have. This maketh Tr…de Neceſſ…ry; to ſay nothing of the Genius of moſt, not contenting themſelves with bare Food and Rayment. A late Author in his Compaſſionate Enquiry, tells us and very truly:
That Trade opens a Paſſage to the Diſcovery of other Countreys and of the VVorks of GOD and Man,pag. 47. of Nature and Art. That it is the great Incentive, and Inſtrument of Humane Society; it makes all Mankind of one Body, and by mutual Entercourſe to ſerve the Occaſions, Supply the Needs and Miniſter to the Delight and Entertainment one of another. It enlargeth the Minds of Men, as well as their Fortunes; inſomuch that any Nation is Unpolite, Unbred, and half Barbarous without it. It inures Men to Hardſhip and Danger; it inſtructs them in Subtilty, and all the Arts of Self-ſecurity. It alſo adds much to the Beauty, Power, and Strengths of a Nation; and to the Riches, and Revenue of a Prince.—A Noble Elogium—After all which, Statiſts may ſee reaſon to enquire, Whether any Religion or Reaſon or State ca… endure the Abatement or Diminution or Deſtruction of Trade, by any Impoſitions in Matters of Religio… which the Law of GOD doth not expreſly require at their Hands. For amongſt the things that have been found the eminent Cauſes of the Ruine of Trade:
1. Perſecution of Men for their different Apprehenſions in the things of GOD, hath been ſo Univerſal and Eminent, as all the VVorld hat… taken Notice of it. By Perſecution I mean a violent Proſecution of Men to the Loſs of their Lives, Liberties or Eſtates, let it be by the Execution of a Law or not. The Law excuſeth the Fact it may be from Oppreſſion or Tyra…y. An Humane Law in the caſe was pleaded in the higheſt Perſecution ever was: VVe have a Law (ſay the Jews) and by that Law he ought to die; (ſpeaking concerning CHRIST.) This hath been ſo eminently proved by a worthy Hand that nothing need be added to it. Le… any one but reflect upon thoſe Towns and Citie… where Liberty is granted in the things of GOD, and thoſe Places where the Popiſh Inquiſitions take place, and compare the State of the one with the other, and there needs no further VVitneſs. VVhat brought the Trade both of this Place and ſome others in England, but D. Alva's Perſecution in Flanders? And I dare ſay this one thing ſhall to the End of the World be the Ruine of Trade any Place. The Power of Conſcience is exceeding great: beſides that in all Trading there muſt be ſuch an intermixing of Mens Eſtates, ſuch a dependency of the Well-being of one Man upon another, as neceſſarily requires the Freedom and Security of all who are of any conſiderable Fortunes. In a Perſecution none knows who he may truſt his Eſtate with, nor how far he may adventure: in ſhort it Plucks up all Trade by the Roots; Diſpirits Men from dealing or adventuring, which makes Perſecution a thing, though conſonant to the Luſts of ſome Ill-natured, Peeviſh, Self-willed Men, yet, contrary to the true Intereſt of all Men.
2. A Second Cauſe (is the Daughter of this Mother,) Transplantation, or Tranſmigration: this Perſecution cauſeth; Men will endure any thing rather than Oppreſſion in the Matters of their Conſcience. Thoſe who think, that Riches and a Courſe of Trade in a Place, will Stake Men down, and Nail them to their Poſts while they Scourge them according to their Malice, forget how many Thouſand Tradeſmen under Alva's Perſecution removed out of Flanders into England, and how many Thouſands removed from Old into New England, deſpiſing their Native Countrey and all their Intereſts here, the Dangers of the Seas, the Difficulties they could not but foreſee of making a Deſolate VVilderneſs habitable: all theſe were nothing in their Eyes ſo they might keep a Conſcience void of Offence toward GOD in the Great Matter of his VVorſhip. Tranſplantation or Removal of Tradeſmen in any conſiderable Number from any Place where they were fixed, is ſo obvious a Cauſe of the Decay and Ruine of the Trade of that Place that it need not be enlarged upon; whoſo ſeeth it not is Blinder than a Beetle, and deſerveth to be begged, till he can tell the VVorld how the Channel can run as full when the VVater is let out into ſeveral Streams, as when it had but one Tract.
3. A third Cauſe of the Abatement of Trade, is the Multiplication of thoſe who are occupied in it. The VVorld is a finite thing, there is an Enough for it, and it hath but its meaſure to give: And as it is impoſſible that ſuppoſing a Father to have ten Sons, and another two, though they both have equal Eſtates, that they ſhould both give equal Portions to every Child; ſo neither can the World ſatisfy a Multitude of Beggars as well as if it had but a few. This Abatement of Trade is not in the General, but as to Particulars in the whole as much is gotten as ever; but few individuals get ſo much, nor is it poſſible they ſhould, unleſs we could imagine a proportionable Multiplication of Perſons in the World to be Fed or Clothed, to the effects of the multiplied Tradeſmen, who Work to Feed, Cloth and Adorn them.
4. A fourth Cauſe of the Decay of Trade, is the Falſe making of Commodities, and Mens Falſe Dealing one with another in Bargains, &c. A thing for the repute of which we in England (how juſtly I know not) infinitely ſuffer beyond the Seas. Truth gives all things a Reputation: Falſehood is as conſtant a Blot, and will be the Ruine of that Man, or any number of Men that uſe it. It may (like VVine in a Feaver) ſeem a little to refreſh his Purſe at firſt, but it will empty it at laſt. The Reward of the Liar is when once known, never to be further truſted.
5. A fifth Cauſe is Mens ſtudious Ʋnder-ſelling one another. Saint John told us long ſince, that the whole VVorld lies in VVickedneſs, and truly a great part of it lies in this piece of VVickedneſs, being ſtudious to out go one another: now though this be every one's Duty in that which is Good, and poſſibly Lawful, if duly circumſtanced, in things which are either Good or Evil as they are uſed; yet it may be ſo purſued as it may be very Evil.
6. Laſtly, I obſerve, that hardly any Trades, will maintain their Glory, without ſome Government; every particular Tradeſman, having neither VVit nor Honeſty enough to be a Law to himſelf. In all conſiderable Trades therefore prudent Stateſ-men have thought fit to make Corporations, where the multitude are under the Inſpection, Rule and Government of the moſt Experienced, VViſe, and Diſcreet, Men of that Occupation: and moſt Trades which to any conſiderable degree multiply Tradeſmen, either have ſuch Governours, or in a ſhort time come to nothing for want of it.
Let me now come to make ſome Spiritual Reflections upon theſe Ordinary Obſervations.
1. I cannot but from hence firſt Obſerve the mighty Power of Conſcience, awakened to the fear of Sinning againſt GOD. Quid non mortalia pectora Cogit? Men of no Conſcience may make a Jeer of it, none knoweth the Power of it but he that Feeleth it. It turns a Priſon into a Delectable Garden, a Scorching Flame into a Bed of Roſes; and no wonder that it doth ſo, for what is it, but GODS Vicegerent in the little VVorld of Man? GOD'S Interpreter to every Soul? It is a great misfortune to a Perſon if it be ſuborned, and gives in a falſe Verdict. No Man can act againſt it, though every one is not bound to act according to every precept, or dictate of it. The Power of its Regrets, and Reflections for Diſobedience, are ſuch as none can ſtand under, and therefore none is bound to Humour any in running the Hazzard of them.
2. The tenderneſs of GOD to the tender Conſciences of his People, is alſo as Obvious an Obſervation from hence. Men of the VVorld can think of nothing for them but Gaols and Bridewells. One while they are thinking to Jeer them out of their Conſciences by a Ballad, another-while to rail them out of them by a Foul Mouth, anon to Cudgel them out of them. GOD doth not ſo with them in his Providence. If they cannot have a Room in Flanders, he will provide for them in England; if they cannot have a reſting Place in Europe, he will provide them one in America, making for them a way in the VVilderneſs, and Hewing them out an hiding Place through the Rocks, and in a Deſart Land; and the Nation, that will not be a quiet Habitation for them that fear him, GOD will Judge. If they will have no tender Conſciences in their Cities and Ports, they ſhall have no Trade; to tell them they ſhall have no Religion will not trouble them, it may be the Decay of their Riches and Trade will. Let the Conſcience be truly tender, fearing to ſin againſt GOD; and let the VVorld be as Cruel, as Hard-Hearted, as Bloody as it will, they will find they have a tender Father. Never any loſt any thing, nor ſhall loſe by being afraid to Sin againſt the LORD, that made them, that bought them with his Precious Blood. A Man indeed may fear too much, but there are few, very few that Err on that Hand; there are Thouſands more that fear too little. The Simple paſs on (ſaith Solomon) and are Puniſhed.
3. VVhat a Vaſt Difference their is, between the Earthly and the Spiritual Weaver? The Multiplication of Tradeſmen in the former, abates and ſpoils the Profit of the Trade. I would all the LORDS People (ſaith Moſes) were Prophets: durſt any Poor Weaver in this Town, ſay I would all the People in this City were Weavers? the reaſon is Obvious: The VVorld hath not Gold and Silver enough to give to every one. Hence is the ſcrambling for it and all the VVorlds Game is, Catch he, who Catch can. But GOD hath Grace and Glory enough to give to all that will Trade for Heaven, ſo as none by getting hinders another. The VVorld cannot receive all the Clothes and Stuffs, that would be made if a tenth part of the Men in it were Weavers: but all the Prayers and Praiſes, all the Homages and Exerciſes of Holineſs, which the World can bring forth, are too little for that GOD to whom they aſcend as an Homage. Who would not be in Love with that Trade that were not capable of being abated by Multiplication of Tradeſmen; and yet would moſt certainly bring in ſuch Profit as Eye hath not Seen, nor Ear Heard, nor can enter into the Heart of Man to Conceive? ſuch are the Things which GOD hath prepared for them that Love and Serve him.
4. Again; doth falſe making of VVares, and falſe Dealing with Merchants and Cuſtomers, ruine the Trading of any Place? and what is it that Ruines the Spiritual Trade but the ſame thing? when the Power of Godlineſs, is turned into a Form, Religion into a meer Formality and outſide Shew and Appearance. VVhen Men Glory in Shew and not in Reality, when Men are falſe in their Acts of Devotion, and falſe in their Converſation, GOD will deal with them no longer; but remove his Name and his Goſpel from them, to a People that will bring forth better Fruit.
5. I Obſerve that in Trading every ones ſtudy is to get his VVork done Cheaper than another, and to Ʋnderſell his Neighbour. Have we not too much of this in the Spiritual Trade too? doth not the falſeneſs of our Hearts prompt us, to come off as Cheap with GOD as we can? long Sermons, long Prayers, are thought Needleſs. VVe would fain put off to GOD that which hath coſt us Nothing, and which indeed is little VVorth: but GOD hath Curſed him, that hath a Male in his Flock and bringeth unto him a Female. VVe are bound to Love, and Serve the LORD our GOD with all our Heart, and all our Soul, and all our Strength.
6. Laſtly I Obſerve, that in all Trades, when Tradeſmen multiply to any great Number, the Trade never thrives long without a prudent Regulation and Government, all Men having not (as I ſaid before) either VVit or Honeſty enough to be a Law to themſelves; nor doth the Trade thrive much, Unleſs the Governours, be diſcreetly Choſen. 2. Ʋnleſs they juſtly diſcharge their Truſt. To this purpoſe ordinarily ſuch Tradeſmen are left to chuſe their own Governours as being beſt acquainted with the Trade, and the Perſons that have moſt Skill in it, and have beſt approved their Honeſty in the Managery of it. In thoſe days (ſaith the Scripture, Acts 6.1.) when the number of the Diſciples were multiplied, there aroſe a Murmuring of the Grecians againſt the Hebrews, becauſe their VVidows were neglected in the daily Miniſtrations. In Multitudes Corruptions will multiply. This made the Apoſtles turn them into a Corporation, authorizing them, to look out ſeven Men amongſt themſelves, whom they might ſet over that Affair. A Government is neceſſary in the Church, and Originally it choſe its own Officers. But let a Trade have what Governours it will, if either they know not their Office, or knowing it wai… not upon it, or in pretence waiting upon it, yet act directly contrary to their Truſt, winking at Falſe Weights, or Meaſures, diſcouraging the Beſt Tradeſmen, encouraging the VVorſt and moſt Falſe, the Trade muſt neceſſarily be ruined. And thus it will be in the Church of GOD, that drive the Spiritual Trade. If either it hath no Officers and Government, or if it hath ſuch as know not their VVork and Duty of their Place; or though they know it, yet through Lazineſs, or, Greedineſs of filthy Lucre wait not on it Or, though in pretence they wait upon it, yet in very deed act directly contrary to their Truſt, ſmiting thoſe the Fear the LORD in ſtead of thoſe that Hate him, diſcouraging the beſt Profeſſors and Practitioners in Godlineſs, in ſtead of the open Enemies of Truth and Holineſs; the Spiritual Trade of that Place that hath ſuch a Curſe muſt neceſſarily abate, or at beſt go on but in Corners.
FINIS.
Fly from the wrath to come
End of the text · John Collinges, The Weavers Pocket-Book (1695)