The Tradesmans Calling, Title page – Errata
THE Trades-man's CALLING.
BEING A DISCOURSE concerning the Nature, Neceſſity, Choice, &c. of a Calling in General: AND Directions for the right Managing of the Tradeſman's Calling in Particular.
1 Cor. 7. 24. Brethren, let every Man wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
By Richard Steele, M. A. and Miniſter of the Goſpel.
LONDON, Printed by J. D. for Samuel Sprint at the Bell in Little Britain, MDCLXXXIV.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Friendly Reader,
FOR as much as the Pains and Trouble of writing Books is (unto ſome Tempers I am ſure) very great, unleſs animated thereunto by ſome Oppoſition, Gain, vain-Glory, or ſuch like Motives; and the Age we live in ſo curious, if not cenſorious; it is meet that I give ſome account of this preſent Endeavour, which plainly is, only to guide the honeſt-minded Tradeſman in the right way to Heaven. It is evident, that there are vaſt numbers of People, that are imployed in ſome Trade or other; and I reckoned their ſome Directions and Cautions about their Carriage therein, would not be an unuſeful undertaking. Surely an Affair that takes up ſix parts of ſeven of their Time, doth require more Rules, and admits more Caſes of Conſcience, than are digeſted into any one Treatiſe yet extant.
Whilſt others therefore are canvaſſing more doubtful Points in Doctrine or Worſhip, my preſent Province ſhall be to direct the Mind and Practice of the conſciencious Chriſtian in his daily Employment, where certainly he hath most Temptations, and without God's Grace falls into most Sins, and where he hath need of all the Aſſiſtance that God or Man ſhall impart, unto him. For it is not ſufficient to be devout in Prayer in the Morning, and at Night, and leave Conſcience aſleep all the Day; no, thoſe Religious Duties are only the Means whereby to procure that Wiſdom, Faith, Patience, Self denial and Integrity of which he will have uſe all the day long.
And the Tradeſman hath more Exerciſes for theſe Graces, than most other Men: he hath the ſame Corruption of Nature to bias him, and the ſame Devil to tempt him, with others; but then he hath more variety of Trials from the World, than the ſtudious Scholar, or the plain Husbandman: And infinite are the Caſes of Conſcience, that come in a Tradeſman's way; all which, tho this ſmall Tract cannot reach, yet I hope hereby to inſtruct and reſolve him in the most material of them, or at leaſt to eſtabliſh ſuch Principles and Rules, as, being faithfully applied to particular Caſes, will tend much to his Direction.
When therefore I have diſcourſed of the Nature and Kinds, the Neceſſity, the Choice, and the right Entrance into a Calling in general, I ſhall lay down thoſe Directions that are neceſſary for the Chriſtian Tradeſman in his particular Calling, and point at the Temptations to which he is liable; and add ſomething concerning the leaving or finiſhing his Calling; and ſo commit all to the Bleſſing of the Almighty, which only can make this Endeavour uſeful to the Souls of Men, which is the unfeigned deſire of,
May 12. 1684. The unworthy Inſtrument Richard Steele.
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I. OF the Nature and Kinds of Callings.
What is a Calling. Page 1
What is our General or Spiritual Calling. 2
What a Particular or Temporal Calling is. ibid. Here
1. Its Author, 3
2. Its Eſſence, 4
3. Its Ends. ib.
The ſeveral Kinds of Callings. 5
Inference,
1. Folly of Men, 6
1. That mind neither Calling. ib.
2. That neglect either of them. 8
3. That reſpect not the Author. 9
4. That miſtake the Ends. 10
2. The Wiſdom of God,
1. In the variety of Callings. 11
2. In qualifying and inclining Perſons to them. 12
CHAP. II. OF the Neceſſity of a Temporal or Particular Calling.
1. Proved,
1. From the Light of Nature. Pag. 13
2. From the Light of Scripture.
1. God's Inſtitution. 14
2. His Command. 15
3. The Example of Chriſt. 16
3. From the Light of Reaſon:
1. In point of Juſtice and Equity.
1. To a Man's Self, 17
2. To a Man's Family, ib.
3. To the Poor, ib.
4. To the Publick. 18
2. In point of Safety,
1. From Sin, 19
2. From Danger. ib.
Object.
1. I have no Need. Anſw. 20
2. I have no Ability. Anſw. 21
2. Applied,
1. In Reproof,
1. Of begging Friers. …
2. Of Idle Beggars. 22
3. Of Lazy Chriſtians. 23
2. In Exhortation,
1. To Parents, 24
2. To Children and Youths. 25
CHAP. III. OF the Choice of a Calling.
1. It muſt be Lawful.
How this knows▪ 26
What Callings are Unlawful. 27
2. It muſt be fit; for the Perſons,
1. Education 29
2. Abilities.
1. Of Mind, 30
2. Of Body. 31
3. Inclinations. ib.
What to do in caſe theſe concur not. 32
3. It ſhould be Attainable, Safe, and Uſeful. 33
Inference. The Neceſſity of good Deliberation. 35
CHAP. IV. OF Right Entrance into a Calling.
Four things needful. 37
1. Right Ends. ib. Viz.
1. God's Glory. 38
2. Common Good. ib.
3. Own Good. 39
2. Due Qualifications.
1. Knowledg,
1. To read and write. 40
2. In the Principles of Religion. 41
3. A Capacity for it. 42
2. Grace. Particularly,
1. Humility, 43
2. Fidelity. 44
3. Firm Reſolutions againſt.
1. The Difficulties. 45
2. The Temptations. 46
4. Earneſt Prayer. 47
Ʋſe 1. Reflection. 49
Ʋſe 2. Inſtruction. ib.
CHAP. V. OF the due Managing of a Trade or Calling.
Six Requiſites thereunto. Page 51
Sect. 1. The Firſt Requiſite in a Trade is Prudence or Diſcretion. Where,
1. The Deſcription of it. 52
2. The Excellency and Neceſſity of it. 53
3. The Imployment of it, which is,
1. In getting a full Inſight into it. 55
2. In fixing the Circumſtances of it, as Time, Place, Perſons. 56
3. Due Deliberation in particular Caſes. 58
4. Proportioning the Affairs of your Trade to the Ability of your Mind, Body, Eſtate. 59
5. Ordering your Expences ſutable to it. 60
6. Frequent Inſpection into the ſtate of your Affairs. 62
7. Governing the Paſſions of Anger, Fear, Hope, &c. 63
8. Conſidering the Contingencies of it. 66
9. Avoiding ruinous Courſes; as,
1. Bad Company. 67
2. Suretiſhip. 68
3. Gaming. 70
4. Pragmaticalneſs. 71
10. Diſpoſing your outward Calling in Subordination to your Chriſtian Calling. 72
Ʋſe 1. Repr.
1. Indiſcretion of the Godly. 73
2. Carnal Policy of the Ʋngodly. 74
2. Exhort. Labour for Wiſdom.
1. Beg it of God.
2. Conſult wiſe Men. 75
3. Study for it in the uſe of Means. 76
Sect. 2. The ſecond Requiſite in a Trade is Diligence. Pag. 76
Here, 1. The Nature of it.
2. The Extent of it. Conſiſts in,
1. Imploying all the Faculties of the Mind. 78
2. All the Strength of the Body. ib.
3. The Subſtance of your Time. 79
4. Laying hold of Opportunities. 81
5. Taking care of (ſeemingly) leſſer matters. 82
6. Rejecting Avocations; as Abſence from 83
Shops, Taverns, uſeleſs Viſits, 84
Recreations, undue Devotion. 85
What time may be ſpent in Exerciſes of Devotion. 86
3. Inducements to Diligence.
1. It's matter of Duty. 87
2. Of Safety. ib.
3. Of Benefit. 88
4. Of Comfort. 89
4 Ʋſe,
1. Repr. Of Idleneſs. 90
2. Exhort.
1. To this Diligence in your 91
Particular Callings. Cautions herein, 92
2. Much more in your Heavenly. 93
Sect. 3. The Third Requiſite in a Trade is Juſtice.
1. The Nature of it. 96
2. The Neceſſity of it.
1. It is your Duty,
1. By the Law of Nature. 97
2. By the expreſs Law of God. ib.
3. By the Law of Chriſt. 98
2. It is your Intereſt. ib.
3. The Extent of it.
1. Performing lawful Promiſes. 99
Of paying your Work-Folks. 101
2. Paying due Debts. 102
Of breaking upon deſign. 103
3. Ʋſing exact Weights, Meaſures, and Lights. 104
4. Right working of Manufactures. 105
5. Making Conſcionable Bargains. 106 viz.
1. Content with reaſonable Gain. 107
What is the beſt meaſure of a Tradeſman's Gain. ib.
2. No Advantage of anothers Neceſſity. 109
3. Nor of their Unskilfulneſs. 110
4. Deal not for ſtollen Goods. 111
5. Ʋſe an honeſt Plainneſs. 112
6. Defraying lawful Impoſitions. ib.
Againſt ſtealing of Cuſtom, 113
and ſtarving of Miniſters. 114
7. Paying due Reſpects to the Orders of your Society. 115
8. Having an equitable Regard to Fellow-Traders. 116
Particularly to Partners. Againſt Engroſſing. 117
9. Having a paternal Care about Apprentices. Warning againſt too much, 118
1. Rigor, 119
2. Indulgence. 120
10. Making due Proviſion for Wife and Children. 122
11. Shewing Mercy to the Poor. 123
Objects of Charity ſpecified. 124
4. Uſe.
1. Of Reflection. 125
2. Of Comfort. 126
3. Of Conviction. 127
4. Of Exhortation.
1. To proceed by this Rule,
2. To Reſtitution. 129
This your.
1. Duty.
2. Intereſt. 130
Object.
1. Of Inability. Anſw. 131
2. Fear of Shame. Anſw. 133
3. Abſence or Death of Parties. Anſw. 134
3. Take the ſafer Path in doubtful Caſes. 135
4. Prevent others from doing Wrong. 136
Sect. 4. The Fourth Requiſite in a Trade is Truth, or Veracity. Where, 137
1. Its Nature is deſcribed. ib.
2. Your Obligations to it demonſtrated,
1. From the Light of Nature. 138
2. From the Light of Scripture. 139
3. From the Light of ſound Reaſon. ib.
There's 1. Equity in it. 141
There's 2. Commodity in it. 142
There's 3. Ingenuity in it. 142
There's 4. Policy in it. ibid
Object. 1. From Examples of the contrary. Anſw. 143
2. From the ſmallneſs of the Sin of Lying. Anſ. 144
3. From the pretended Neceſſity of it. Anſw. 145
3. Inſtances wherein it is to be exerciſed.
1. Not concealing what you ſhould diſcover. 146
2. Shunning all unjuſt Commendations of Commodities. 147
3. Avoiding all unjuſt Diſparagements thereof. 148
4. Abhorring any Untruths in or about your Bargains. 149
5. Forbearing all Equivocations. 150
6. Reſtraining multiplicity of Words. 151
4. Uſe,
1. Of Reflection. 153
2. Of Reproof. 154
3. Of Exhortation to Veracity. 155
Means. 1. True Faith and Fear of God. 156
2. A truly tender Conſcience. 156
3. A real Love of your Neighbour. 157
Sect. 5. The Fifth Requiſite in a Trade is Contentedneſs. 158
Where, 1. The Deſcription of it.
2. Reaſons for it. 159
1. In reſpect of God,
1. His Command. 161
2. His Providence. 162
3. His Glory. ibid
2. In reſpect of our Selves.
1. Our Deſerts. 163
2. Our Mortality. 164
3. Our Comfort. ibid
3. The Practice of it.
1. In chearful undergoing the Inconveniences of it. 165
A liſt of ſome Inconveniences in a Trade. 166
2. In a thankfull acknowledgment of the Excellencies of it. 169
A Diſcourſe of the Excellencies of a Trade. 170
3. In a patient bearing the Loſſes, &c. in it. 172
4. In watching againſt the contrary Temptations.
As 1. Ambition, 175
As 2. Envy, ibid
As 3. Covetouſneſs, 177
As 4. Deſpondency, 179
As 5. Invading other Callings. 180
In what caſe one Man may have ſeveral Callings. ibid
5. In a ſteady Continuance in it, 181
4. The Uſe. 1. Of Repr. The Evil of Diſcontent. 2. Of Exhort. to Contentedneſs. 183
Means. 1. Faith. 184
2. Humility.
3. Prayer. 185
Sect. 6. The Sixth Requiſite in a Trade is Religiouſneſs.
Where, 1. The Nature of it. 186
2. Inducements to it.
1. Nature teaches it. 187
2. Scripture teacheth it. 188
3. Reaſon teacheth it. It being,
1. The trueſt Wiſdom, 189
2. The higheſt Equity, 190
3. The ſoundeſt Comfort, ibid
4. The greateſt Neceſſity. 191
Object. 1. From the Difficulty. Anſwered. 192
Object. 2. From the Prejudicialneſs. Anſw. 193
Object. 3. From the Singularity. Anſw. 194
Object. 4. From the Danger. Anſw. 195
Object. 5. From the Needleſneſs. Anſw. 196
3. The Exerciſe of it.
1. In maintaining a religious frame of Heart. 197
2. In the due Exerciſe of Faith. 199
3. In the right performance of Religious Worſhip. 200
4. In obſerving a right Rule and End. 203
Whether a Man may aim at Riches in his Calling? 204
5. In ſpiritualizing your Calling. ibid
A Catalogue of all the Trades mentioned in Scripture. 205
6. In the holy Obſervation of the Sabbath. 206
7. In the Practice of Watchfulneſs. 209
8. In the uſe of holy Ejaculations. 211
9. In the exerciſe of all Grace. 213
10. In promoting Goodneſs and diſcourag. Sin. 215
Some Directions for the.
1. Chuſing ſome good Books. 217
2. Ʋſing them. 220
4. Uſe.
1. Of Lamentation and Reproof, 221
Particularly the Omiſſion 1. Of Family-worſhip, 223
Particularly the Omiſſion 2. Of the Lord's Supper, 225
2. Of Exhortation. 226
CHAP. VI. OF the Finiſhing of a Calling, 229
Concluſ. A Man cannot lawfully leave his Calling till God doth diſcharge him. 230
He doth this, 1. Immediately. ibid
2. Mediately.
1. By the Hand of Man. 231
2. By his own ſpecial Providence,
1. Diſabling the Mind. 232
2. Diſabling the Body. 233
Whether a Man may withdraw from his Calling and live upon his Eſtate? 234
3. Diſabling a Man in his Eſtate. 235
4. Summoning him by Death. 236
Here Advice to Tradeſmen,
1. To ſet their Souls in Order. 237
2. To ſet their Houſe in order. 238
ERRATA.
SOme literal Miſtakes have paſt the Preſs. For others that are more material, read as followeth. Page 91. line 1. for I was. read I went. P. 93. l. 15. f. then, r. thee. P. 119. l. 31. f. own, r. owe. P. 120. l. 28. f. incur'd, r. inur'd. P. 128. l. 8. f. Wrath, r. Wealth▪ P. 207. l. 25. f. all night r. as night.