The Tradesmans Calling, Chapter 5 · Section 2
SECT. 2. Of Diligence in a Trade.
AND the ſecond Requiſite in a Trade is Diligence. About which, 1. I ſhall deſcribe the Nature; 2. The Object of it: 3. Some Inducements to it. 4. Make ſome Application.
Firſt; For the Nature of it. It is a Chriſtian Vertue, diſpoſing a Man to uſe his greateſt Skill, Care, and Strength in his Calling. It differeth not in ſubſtance from the ſame moral Vertue among the Heathen; but that, in a Chriſtian there is a better Root whence it grows, and that is a ſanctified Heart, a Conſcience that ſtands in awe of God, and ſo cauſes the Man to ſtand in awe of it. And alſo he hath a higher End in his Diligence, and that is the Glory of God and the good of others, and not meerly for his own credit or advantage. Whereas the induſtrious Pagan, as he knows not God, ſo he cares not for him: but ſelf is at the beginning, ſelf is at the middle, and ſelf is at the end of all his Care and Pains; and the unſanctified Chriſtian is little better, but rather worſe, becauſe he hath greater light, and yet lives not up to it. That which diſtinguiſhes it from other Vertues is, that it conſiſts in imploying all a Man's Skill, Time, Care, and Strength in a ſober and moderate meaſure in his Calling; and ſo the extream on the one hand is Idleneſs and Careleſsneſs, together with a buſying ones ſelf with other Mens matters; and on the other hand, immoderate carking, and ſlaviſh drudging. Diligence walks between theſe extreams. Next to the ſaving his Soul, his care and buſineſs is to ſerve God in his Calling, and to drive it as far as it will go: for he knows that his ſtrength and time are lent him for that purpoſe; and that whatſoever are imployed otherwiſe, run waſte. In ſhort, the Diligent Man makes all the convenient haſte he can, to diſpatch his work upon Earth, that he may the ſooner be in Heaven.
Secondly; This Diligence, as to the Extent of it, ſtands in theſe following Particulars.
1. In the ſerious Imploying all the Faculties of your Mind about your Trade and Calling. Your Fancies, your Underſtandings, your Memories, and all the acquired Improvements of them, are all to be laid out therein. In that, Prov. 27. 2…. where the Holy Ghoſt commands that Men be diligent, he adds in the Hebr. Set thy Heart to thy Herds. So that whatſoever ſagacity of Mind, depth of Judgment, quickneſs of Invention, ſoundneſs of Conſideration you are maſters of, ſhould be here imployed. And tho in ſome Trades there be leſs need and uſe of theſe than in others; yet there is no Calling, but imployment may be had for every one of them. And it is a great commendation to any Man, that having a rich Fancy, a clear Underſtanding, a ſtrong Memory, inſtead of abuſingt hem to Sin, or miſimploying them in matters foreign to his buſineſs, he improves them to the utmoſt in his Calling, how mean ſoever. And that this is your Duty is manifeſt from that, Eclceſ. 9. 10. Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledg, nor Wiſdom in the Grave whither thou goeſt▪
2. This Diligence requires the Imploying all your Strength of Body in the buſineſs of your Trades. Have you a firm Conſtitution, a vigorous Nerve, an able Arm, a ſtrenuous Back? all theſe muſt ſerve God in your Callings, for he hath intruſted you with this Strength for this end. And this is eſpecially requiſite in the time of youth and health: God having ordained thoſe honeſt Labours, both to provide for a livelihood for the Body, and to prevent the diſtempers of the Soul: for the more laborious, the leſs laſcivious; that honeſt induſtry ſpending thoſe exuberant Spirits, which are otherwiſe apt to break forth in unlawful flames. Beſides, Sickneſs and old Age will come, when the ſtrong men will bow themſelves, and the grinders ceaſe; and thoſe that look out at the windows will be darkned. It's true, God doth not require or approve, that Men ſhould ſo exhauſt their ſtrength in the labours of their Calling, that they are left ſpiritleſs in his immediate ſervice, when their work is done; but obſerving that moderation which is in every thing requilit, they ſhould not be ſhy to lay out their ſtrength in the affairs of their Calling; knowing that God accepts their Labour, and will by Food and Reſt recruit them again. Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening. Pſal. 104. 23.
3. This Diligence requires the Imploying the ſubſtance of your Time in the affairs of your Trades. As the Servant's Time is his Maſter's, ſo the Maſter's Time is God's, and not his own; and accordingly to be juſtly beſtowed betwixt his Temporal and Spiritual Calling, Hours having wings, and every moment flies up to the Author of Time, and carries news of our uſage of it. And here you have that commendable inſtance of Jacob, Gen. 31. 40. Thus I was, in the day the drought conſum'd me, and the froſt by night, and my ſleep departed from mine eyes. And it is recorded to the praiſe of Ru…h, chap. 2. 17. She gleaned in the Field until Even and of the vertuous Woman, Prov. 31. 15, 18. She riſeth alſo while it is yet night,—and perceiving that her Merchandize is good; her Candle goeth not out by Night. By all which Inſtances it is evident, that the conſciencious Tradeſman is bound (if health permits him) to be ſtirring early about his lawful occaſions, and continue therein with a chearful diligence all the day long, except ſuch time as his Soul or Body muſt be refreſhed. For the neceſſary Duties of Religion, as they take up but a little time, ſo they loſe none; and moderate refreſhment muſt be allowed. But as Prayer and Provender hinder no Journey, ſo Meal and Mattens gain time, and waſte it not. The Diligent Tradeſman hath always ſomething to do, either to lay in or to lay out, either to be learning or teaching; his Shop or his Books are always calling him. He is as wary in his expence of Time as of Money, knowing that his Time is but ſhort; ſhort for the work he hath to do for his Soul, for his Livelihood, for his Family, for his Friends, and for the Publick: And that it is alſo uncertain. For Man alſo knoweth not his time, as the Fiſhes that are taken in an evil Net; Eccleſ. 9. 12. That, death is lurking in ſome part or other of his Body, and it will be cold comfort, if it ſeize him out of his Calling: But, Bleſſed is the Servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, ſhall find ſo doing: Mat. 24. 46. He conſiders alſo that Time when ſpent is irrecoverable, no Prayers, nor Tears, nor Money can fetch it back again; and many times, that which might have been diſpatched yeſterday, cannot be done to day. As the Hebrew Phraſe is, the work of a day is beſt in its day. And therefore let the diligent Tradeſman be careful to fill his Time with uſeful imployment, and get the ſubſtance of his work done, before his Time and Strength be done; leſt he be undone himſelf both here and hereafter.
4. The Tradeſman's Diligence conſiſts, in Laying hold of Opportunities. For if a Man be never ſo induſtrious and painful, yet unleſs he be watchful to obſerve his Opportunity, and then ſwift to lay hold thereon, he is wanting in the diligence requiſit for him. For oft-times great matters may be done in a ſmall juncture of time. Hence ſome Tranſlations render that, Prov. 22. 29. Seeſt thou a Man diligent in his buſineſs; ready and ſwift. As there are ſometimes ſhreds of time, that may be improv'd to great advantage; ſo eſpecially Opportunities, which if caught by the forelock, will pay for all the care and watching for them; and if ſlipt, may never preſent themſelves again. The fooliſh Virgins had a proper ſeaſon to have ſtor'd themſelves ſufficiently with Oil, but then trifling and ſleeping, they could afterwards get none for love nor money. Opportunity is Wind and Tide; an Affair tranſacted in a due ſeaſon, is diſpatch'd with eaſe. The diligent Tradeſman obſerves theſe, and ſo ſails with Wind and Tide. To every thing there is a ſeaſon, and a time to every purpoſe under the Heaven. And therefore is care requiſit in a diligent man, as well as labour; and many thoughts more uſeful, than many words. Thus the Kingdom of Heaven is compared, Matth. 13. 45. to a Merchant-man ſeeking goodly Pearls; who when he had found One Pearl of great price, he went and ſold all that he had, and bought that Pearl. He ſpied his Opportunity, and ſtruck in with it to his great Advantage: and ſo muſt the diligent Tradeſman do, in what ever capacity he be, always provided that he build not his Gain on others Ruins, nor purchaſe his private Advantage with prejudice to the Publick.
5. This Diligence is ſhewn, In Taking a due care in thoſe that ſeem leſſer matters. Many ſmall matters amount to what is conſiderable at length. A mean Cuſtomer attended, and pleaſed, ſhews the way to a greater. The diſdaining to get, or ſave, or mind things of ſmall value, is often puniſh'd of God, by bringing ſuch proud and careleſs ones to a morſel of Bread. When the Creature groans under one Man's vanity or abuſe, the Lord hears it, and uſually transfers it to another, who will uſe it better. Plain and notable is that paſſage of our bleſſed Saviour, Joh. 6. 12. when there were only ſome fragments left of five Loves and two Fiſhes, which had fed five thouſand People; and thereby one would think had done their part; yet he appoints his own Diſciples, to gather up the Fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Now it is one thing to be thus wary, out of a penurious gripple humour, and another when it is out of a conſciencious reſpect to all God's Creatures, and a diligent care to put every thing to its beſt uſe; as it's very likely that Chriſt cauſed theſe Fragments to be reſerved for thoſe that needed them. And a conſtant and careful reſpect to ſuch ſmall matters, will render a man able to do much more good, than a heedleſs perſon ſhall do, tho he be of a larger eſtate. God has promiſed, that to him that hath, ſhall be given; namely, to him that hath but two Talents, and improves them, they ſhall increaſe to four. I mean not by this particular to incourage any Sordidneſs, or unſeemly Parſimony; but a due regard to thoſe ſmaller matters, on which greater do depend, or which by ſome few repetitions amount to great. By a due care hereof, many Perſons have attain'd to a great Eſtate, and have done a great deal of good with it.
6. This Diligent Care conſiſts, In Rejecting thoſe Avocations which would divert you from your Affairs. In general, you ſhould indeavour to be as much in your Shops, Ware-houſes, or places where your moſt conſtant buſineſs is, as poſſibly you can: yea, ye ought to delight to be there, as every thing doth to be in its place, and to be reſtleſs when you are neceſſitated thence, until your return thereunto. For there is your place, where you may moſt confidently expect the Preſence and Bleſſing of God. Where did Peter and Andrew and James and John meet with Chriſt, but in their Ships, fiſhing or mending their Nets? As therefore it muſt be a weighty Cauſe, that will excuſe the Clergy-man in his Non-reſidence, if ever his Conſcience do conſider that repeated charge to Peter, Feed my Sheep: Joh. 21. 17. So muſt it be a conſiderable matter that will juſtify a Tradeſman's pleaſing and repoſing himſelf at his Countryhouſe, while his Affairs and Family at home are left at ſixes and ſevens. How many hopeful Youths have been undone hereby, being left by their Maſters to their own wills, and ſo in that unhappy opportunity trapan'd either by bad Men or Women unto all kind of Sins? Hath the Miniſter the charge of Souls in his Place, which being a perſonal Truſt, cannot be devolv'd upon another; and ſo have you in your Family; your Apprentices Parents confiding in your perſonal worth and care, have intruſted their Children with you; and wo to you, if by your Non-reſidence they miſcarry. If you be grown too high for your Trades, or that they be grown too hard for you, it is better to reſign them unto more diligent hands, than to neglect them to the offence of God, and hurt of others.
This Diligence will alſo guard you againſt frequent, and needleſs frequenting of Taverns, Alehouſes, and Coffee-Houſes, where a great deal of Money is waſted, a great deal of Sobriety is loſt, and a great deal of Time is ſquandred away, which ſhould be imployed in your Callings. It is hard to determine how far ſuch Converſe may be permitted; but it is not hard to perceive, that many Tradeſmen exceed thoſe Bounds, which, I do not ſay Religion, but a reaſonable Diligence doth allow. And how many, which ſhould be found in their Shops, muſt be ſought in the Tavern; and others when they ſhould be worſhipping God in due ſeaſon in their Families, are loitering away their time in Coffee-houſes; wherein, tho there be no Law to reſtrain, they have no Superior to call them to account; yet there is an holy God who will enter into Judgment with them, if they do not repent, that is, amend.
The ſame Diligence reſtrains you alſo from needleſs and fruitleſs Viſits. A due performance of theſe, is not only neceſſary in order to buſineſs, but alſo to the preſerving and cultivating of Friendſhip and Alliance; but then Religion teaches Men to improve thoſe civil Offices, to our own and others greateſt good; either by giving or receiving ſome good Counſel or needful Comfort; but it is the idle and uſeleſs Viſits, which the diligent Man avoids; the Viſits which are ſpent in ranſacking all the affairs and faults of their Neighbours or Acquaintance, in correcting the Miſcarriage of Church and State, in judging and condemning Perſons that are abſent, and ſo cannot make their own defence: Such as theſe, 1 Tim. 5. 13. Wandring about from ▪houſe to houſe; not only idle, but Tatlers alſo and Buſi-bodies, ſpeaking things which they ought not. The Diligent Man gives his Viſits, but commonly they are ſhort, ſerious and chearful, whereby he may both leave a ſavour of Goodneſs behind him, and a deſire in his Friends to injoy him again.
This Diligence alſo excludes all bewitching Pleaſures and Recreations, which would diſtract you from your buſineſs. Such as are lawful, neceſſary, and ſeaſonable you may admit; but if they inſnare your Heart, or incroach upon your buſineſs, you muſt reject and anſwer them, as Nehemiah did, Neh. 6. 3. I am doing my work, ſo that I cannot come down: why ſhould the Work ceaſe, whilſt I leave it and come down to you? Pleaſures have their charms, but he that feareth God, ſhall eſcape them all. The diligent Man uſeth them, as Sauce to reſtore his Stomach, palled with poring on his buſineſs; and therefore a touch of them ſerves his turn. He taſtes them as the Dogs of Egypt do the Water of Nilus, with great caution, leſt the Crocodiles devour them. But I have ſpoken ſomewhat about theſe before.
Laſtly, This Diligence will reſtrain all unſeaſonable Devotion. Far be it from me to diſcourage the Exerciſes of Piety: This Climate is grown cold enough in them. But there is a prepoſterous Zeal in ſome Tradeſmen, and Women eſpecially, which draws them to neglect one Calling to further another. But the diligent Man conſiders, that God in his great Wiſdom appointed the ſix days for Work, and a ſeventh for Reſt. And tho upon extraordinary occaſions we may and ought to devote ſome of this time to ſacred purpoſes, as in caſe of Solemn Faſts and Feaſts; and tho an induſtrious Tradeſman may redeem by his Diligence ſome other hours, as for the Refreſhment of his Body, ſo for the inriching his Soul, by reading, hearing, and prayer; yet it is no way juſtifiable, to neglect a Man's neceſſary Affairs, upon pretence of religious Worſhip; to l…t neceſſary Work be undone at home, juſt Debts unpaid abroad, the Family languiſh for want of Providence, the Shop languiſh for want of his Preſence; while he runs from one opportunity to another, till hi… Eſtate be weakned, and his Credit ſ…nk. Doubtleſs there is a meaſure to be obſerved in thoſe things, and uſually a Man is bound to pray and hear no more than will conſiſt, 1. With his Ability of Body; for if the Bucket be once broken, it will carry no Water. 2. With hi… lawful Calling; for therein God is trul… ſerved. 3. With time to meditate on what he hears; for one Duty muſt never exclude another, he that doth nothing but hear, will grow deaf with hearing; and thoſe holy Exerciſes are but means, the end is ſtill nobler, which is to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent World. And ſo much for the Particulars, wherein this Diligence is exemplified.
Thirdly; The Inducements which are proper to diſpoſe the Tradeſman to this Diligence are theſe.
1. It is matter of Duty. Thoſe places mention'd in Prov. 27. 23. and Eccleſ. 9. 10. put it out of doubt. Yea the Holy Ghost doth link it together with the holieſt Actions: Not ſlothful in Buſineſs, fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord; Rom. 12. 11. Ye are as truly bound to be diligent in your Buſineſs, as to be ſervent in Prayer; and it's intimated there, that you ſerve the Lord in both, and conſequently it is a real Sin, both to be bewailed and amended, to be negligent in your Callings, as to be lukewarm in your Prayers. And in the Fourth Commandment God doth as well command Diligence in your Work on the ſix days, as Seriouſneſs on the Sabbath, and propounds his own Example to the ſame purpoſe; For in ſix days the Lord made Heaven and Earth. And tho he ceas'd creating, yet he is working ſtill: Joh. 5. 17. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. His Eyes are continually running to and fro thorowout the whole Earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the behalf of them, whoſe Heart is perfect towards him: 2 Chron. 16. 9. So that here's the Command and Example of God himſelf for Diligence.
2. It is matter of Safety. An honeſt Induſtry is an excellent Preſervative both from Sin and Danger. Moſt Men's Temptations overtake them, when they be out of their Imployment, or negligent in it. When good David had been ſleeping in the afternoon, and walking too idly afterward, 2 Sam▪ 11. 2. then did he fall into that Temptation, that coſt him ſo dear. You know the ſtanding Pool corrupts, the un-employed Harneſs ruſts; but he that is in the way of his Vocation, is moſt out of the way of Temptation. So it is alſo in caſe of Danger; if any Miſchief hover over a Man, it is likelieſt to ſeize upon him, while he is negligent in his Vocation. When Iſhbaſheth was lying on his Bed at noon, Baanah and Rechab ſmote him under the fifth Rib, 2 Sam. 4. 5. In all likelihood, it had fared better with theſe two Princes, if they had been ſtudying and doing the Duty of Magiſtrates, inſtead of repoſing themſelves upon their Beds. Let the Tradeſman learn from others harms to prevent his own, up and be doing, and the Lord is engaged to be with you.
3. In reſpect of Benefit. God doth uſually bleſs the diligent Man with Plenty. The Hand of the diligent maketh rich, Prov. 10. 4. For the thoughts of the diligent tend only to Plenteouſneſs; Prov. 21. 5. Now a plentiful Eſtate is deſirable, provided it be for right ends. If Riches and Honour be good for you, Diligence is the means to compaſs them: Prov. 22. 29. Seeſt thou a Man diligent in his Buſineſs: he ſhall ſtand before Kings, he ſhall not ſtand before mean Men: That is, he is ſit for the higheſt Offices; he may aim at them, he is likelieſt to obtain them. We ſee Princes chuſe out induſtrious Men for their Service; 1 Kings 11. 28. And Solomon ſeeing the young Man (viz. Jeroboam) that he was induſtrious (or as the Margin from the Hebr. that he did work, or take pains) he made him Ruler over all the Charge of the Houſe of Joſeph; and you know how great he grew. If Princes ſee Men to be only wiſe, they ſuſpect they will be too conceited; if high-ſpirited, too turbulent; if honeſt and conſcientious, too difficult; if popular, dangerous; but if diligent, they are fit to be imployed. Now tho the ordinary Tradeſman never expects any great Office or Preferment; yet certainly his Induſtry puts him into the road of all the Preferment whereof he is capable; Iſa. 23. 8. Whoſe Merchants are Princes, whoſe Traffiquers are the Honourable of the Earth.
4. In reſpect of Comfort. There is a certain ſecret ſatisfaction of Mind, that always attends an honeſt Diligence. The Sleep of a laboring Man is ſweet, whether he eat little or much: Eccleſ. 5. 12. He hath been doing the duty of his Calling, and that comforts him. I appeal to your own Conſciences, and to every Man's Experience, whether you find not more inward Peace and Comfort at night after you have been diligently imployed in your Calling, than when you have trifled therein. And any croſs which befalls you is better born, when it finds you in your Imployment, than when out of it. And if by the wiſe Providence of God you do not by your Induſtry obtain abundance; yet you have this comfort, of having done your Duty, which is the chiefeſt ground of all juſt Satisfaction.
Fourthly; The fourth thing then upon this Head is to make ſome uſeful Improvement hereof, which is,
By Reproof,
By Counſel.
1. This detects and reproves the baſeneſs and ſinfulneſs of Idleneſs and Sloth, whether it be in point of Care, or of Labour. The holy Ghoſt by the hand of the Wiſe-Man doth frequently laſh this ſort of Men. Prov. 26. 13, 14, 15, 16. The ſlothful man ſaith, There is a Lion in the way, a Lion in the ſtreets: he fancies danger and difficulties where there are none. Then, As the Door turneth upon his Hinges, ſo doth the Slothful upon his Bed: The Slothful hideth his Hand in his Boſom, it grieveth him to bring it again to his Mouth. And yet after all this, The Sluggard is wiſer in his own conceit, than ſeven Men that can render a Reaſon. And herein he did not beat the Air: For there were then, and are now, numbers of idle Companions, idle Tradeſmen, like thoſe Cretians, Tit. 1. 12. that were evil Beaſts, ſlow Bellies, therefore evil becauſe idle. Come to their Shops in the day, they are abroad; the Prentice ſaw not his Maſter ſince eleven of Clock; knock at their Doors at eleven at night, they are at the Coffee-houſe; come in the Morning, they are in bed. Is this to be diligent in vour buſineſs? Is this doing what your hand findeth to do, with all your might? How will you account for your Time, and Strength, and Parts? Why ſtand ye thus idle in the Marketplace? Where are the old Roman Cenſores morum, Officers who were to examine and puniſh thoſe that ſpent much, and labour'd little? It is ſaid of the Manna, that if it were not gathered early, it melted: They that lov'd their Beds, ſtarv'd their Bellies. This courſe will load you with Guilt, and eaſe you of your Eſtate; no Calling ſo high, but Sloth will impoveriſh; none ſo mean, but Diligence will inrich. I was by the Field of the Slothful, and by the Vineyard of the Man void of Ʋnderſtanding: You ſee the idle Man and the Fool are wrapt in the ſame Cloak. And lo, it was all grown over with Thorns, and Nettles had covered the face thereof, and the Stone-wall thereof was broken down. Then I ſaw, and conſidered it well, I looked upon it and received Inſtruction. Yet a little Sleep, a little Slumber—So ſhall thy Poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed Man: Prov. 24. 20, &c. O learn by others Ruine to prevent your own. Conclude that Sweat is better than Tears, Wearineſs better than Hunger, and aking Bones than a gall'd Conſcience. It was holy Mr. Carter's farewel charge to a Scholar, Cave faſtum, ignaviam, Antichriſtum. And one of the three things that wiſe Cato was ſaid to repent of, was, that ever he had ſpent an idle day.
2. Be perſwaded then,
(1.) To be diligent in your Callings: You have excellent Patterns ſet before you, the great God at work every day every where. Jeſus Chriſt went about doing good: Slipt his Breakfaſt to be at his Work; Mat. 21. 18, 23. wav'd his Dinner to diſpatch it, Joh. 4. 6, 34. Behold the Sun always in motion, and rejoyceth in it, as aſtrong Man to run a race; Pſal. 10. 5. The Moon and Stars, the Sea, the Rivers, all Creatures buſy: Yea, go to the Ant, thou Sluggard, conſider her ways and be wiſe. You have excellent Promiſes for your Encouragement, and ſevere Threatnings to awake you; you have undeniable Inſtances of ſuch as have been raiſed by their Induſtry, and of ſuch as have been ruin'd by Idleneſs: you have all Requiſites to inable you: you have Brains, and Arms, and Health, there's nothing wanting but an Heart. Shake off then the Lethargy that hath benum'd you, mind your Buſineſs, revive your Love to your lawful Calling; reckon your ſelves to be moſt eaſy and happy in your Shops and Buſineſ, and drive the Nail while it is going. But direct all to a right end, the Honour of God, the Publick Good as well as your Private Commodity, and then every ſtep and ſtroke in your Trade is ſanctified. You are working for God, who will be ſure to reward you to your Hearts content.
Withal, you muſt beware, leſt this Diligence degnerate either into ſinful carking, or into immoderate pains, whereby either the Soul or Body ſhould be oppreſt; for whatſoever is gain'd thereby, contracts a Curſe which comes along with it, and without Repentance and Amendment, none of it ſhall ever do you, nor your Poſterity any good. Behold is it not of the Lord of Hosts, (that is, by way of juſt Judgment) that the People ſhall labour in the very Fire, and weary themſelves for very Vanity? Labour in the Fire, and yet for very Vanity! Hab. 2. 13.
And one other Caution yet, Let not your Diligence in your earthly Callings, thruſt out the Service of God. For this, was Martha reprov'd, Luke 10. 41. Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful. You have a Soul as well as a Body; and both muſt live, and conſequently muſt be fed: and the Bleſſing of God muſt be daily ſought, without which all your Diligence will be ineffectual; ye cannot be rich whether God will or not. Obſerve that, Prov. 10. 4, 22. In the 4th Verſe, The hand of the Diligent maketh rich; but in the 22d Verſe, The Bleſſing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no Sorrow with it. Now God's Bleſſing and Man's Diligence are not oppos'd one to another, but ſubordinate to one another; that as the principal cauſe, this as the ordinary means; as the Phyſicians Skill and the Patients Care. It is only the Bleſſing of God, that ſupplies you with natural Abilities, both inward and outward. It is he that giveth thee power to get Wealth; Deut. 8. 18. He governs and directs the Hearts of others; he ſpeakes a good word for them to the Conſcience of thy Neighbour: He proſpers thy Endeavours; for all Second Cauſes depend upon the Firſt both in their being and in their working: He rules all thoſe Circumſtances that muſt concur to thy Succeſs; and he preſerves and multiplies what thou haſt. Haſt thou not made an Hedg about him, and about his Houſe, and about all that he hath on every ſide? thou haſt bleſt the work of his Hands, &c. Job 1. 10. And without this Bleſſing, It is vain for you to riſe up early, to ſit up late, or to eat the Bread of Sorrow: Pſal. 127. 2. And therefore allow convenient room for Prayer every day; and reckon to go round about by Heaven, is the next way to Succeſs, in all thy Undertakings; this is the way to thrive on Earth, and to be bleſt from Heaven. And this leads me to the laſt uſe of this Point.
(2.) If ſuch Diligence be needful about your Earthly Callings; How much more diligent ought you to be about your Heavenly? If you ſhould riſe betimes to work, how much more to pray? If we ſhould ſweat to gain the World, what Agonies ſhould we have to obtain Heaven? There giving all Diligence, add to your Faith, Vertue; and to Vertue, Knowledg: Again, Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure; 2 Pet. 1. 5, 10. If Riches do not, how ſhould Heaven drop into your Mouth, while you are ſleeping? What race is gotten without running? What Crown is obtain'd without fighting? I therefore ſo run, not as uncertainly; ſo fight I, not as one that beateth the Air: 1 Cor. 9. 26. As Sloth is the evident cauſe of Men's Poverty here, ſo it hath the moſt general and certain Influence into Men's Miſery hereafter: Few Men being willing to be at the pains to be ſaved; tho all the labour in Religion be accompanied with real Sweetneſs, and be like a Scholars Studies, tho they make his Brain and Back to ake, yet refreſh his Mind, and he had rather ſtudy than be idle. What is it that hinders Men from reading, whereby to get Knowledge? Sloth. What from Prayer? from afflicting their Souls? from examing their Hearts and Ways! Yea, from Conſideration; or any thing that is difficult to Fleſh and Blood? But Sloth. Shake off this baſe Diſtemper, learn of them that will be rich, what pains they take; they riſe, they run, they ſweat, they are unwearied for falſe Riches; and ſhall we ſleep and freeze in the purſuit of the true Riches? In the Name of God ſtir up thy ſelf, ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, and work while it is Day, wheu Night comes no Man can work. Let ſpiritual Diligence accompany your temporal and out-ſtrip it. For that's the brave Chriſtian, (in holy Mr. Dod's Judgment) that can work hard, and pray hard alſo. And ſo much for this ſecond Requiſite to a good Tradeſman, to wit Diligence.