saking our callings; many have been reduced to a very low ebb, who by the bles sing of providence, and their own care and industry, have recovered themselves, and made considerable acquisitions of estate : but when business requires that substance to carry it on, which by losses and other occurrences we are dispossessed of, and the maintenance of our callings oblige us to contract debts which we are unlikely to repay, justice and prudence require the cessation from them. In these cases, a person does not properly leave his calling but his calling leaves him. Under these circumstances, it becomes a Tradesman to review his past behaviour, and see, whether a criminal neglect of GOD, injustice and oppres sion of others, or some sinful indulgencies, or extravagance, has not procured this evil to him; lest those sins which have driven him from his shop, exclude him from hea ven also.

5th. Tradesmen may allowably leave their callings, when a considerable degree of age and estate inclines and capacitates them so to do. It is not only lawful, but becoming in those who are advanced in wealth, and declining in years, to make room for the increase of younger Trades

men; and not like aged trees, stand to ob struct the growth of those below them. An increasing love of wealth in the decline of life, is a sight shocking to human nature.* But then the retired Tradesman' should remember, that though he is discharged from the fatigues of life, he is not so from the duties of it. His leisure should be employed in preparing his mind for another state, in acts of benevolence and kindness to others; in pointing out to younger persons the paths of virtue and prosperity, and not used only as an indulgence to sloth and sensuality; lest he come under the character of the fool, who " said to his soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ;" and knew no other use of them than to (6 eat, drink, and be mer

Shall we, shall aged men, like aged trees,
Strike deeper their base root, and closer cling,
Still more enamour'd of this wretched soil?
Shall our pale withered hands, be stretch'd out still,
Trembling at once with eagerness and age?
With av'rice, and convulsions, grasping hard?
Grasping at air! for what has earth beside ?

Night Thoughts.

ry;" instead of being rich towards GOD, Luke xii. 19.

5th. Lastly, Any of these appear to be sufficient causes for resigning a trade, and there may be others; but while the Tradesman meets with nothing to recommend or warrant a voluntary retreat from business, while he is pursuing it with the greatest cheerfulness, diligence and success, let him ever bear it in mind that death will soon discharge him from his employment whatever it be. This puts an end to all our cares and labours; "Our breath goes forth, we return to the earth, and in that very day all our thoughts and concerns for this life perish." Psal. cxlvi. 4. This day will surely come, and it often comes when it is least expected. Therefore let the Tradesman be advised, to set his soul in order for it. What madness and folly is it to live unconcernedly in a condition, which we know not but the next day or hour, may introduce us into inevitable misery and destruction! What senseless stupidity has seized the minds of sinners, that they can stand secure on the brink of such a precipice! For to use the words of an eminent divine, "When God hath been pleased in infinite mercy, so clearly

to reveal the happiness of heaven, and the miseries of hell; if men were not amazingly stupified by sin, they could never pos>sess a moment's ease until they had some comfortable certainty of enjoying the one, and escaping the other. How can persons preserve their minds from terror and amazement, when they think of a just and holy Gop, and know not but he is their enemy? How can they open the Bible with comfort, when they know not but they read their own condemnation in every page ? One would think, that the uncertainty of their own salvation, should keep them waking, or amaze them in dreams, and disturb their sleep; when they know not if they shut their eyes, but they may awake in torments. And that the prospect of death and judgment, as near and sure, should fill them with horror and astonishment. Indeed, if the uncertainty was constrained, or the case remediless, it must then be borne as other unavoidable evils are; but when the kind offers of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ are made to repenting and believing sinners; and the characters of those who are in a state of salvation or condemnation, are so plainly described in the gospel, that if men would

with seriousness first search the scriptures, and then faithfully examine their own hearts by them, they might see which state they belong unto; nothing but unaccountable stupidity, can cause persons to live negligent of their great concern, or content themselves in uncertainty of the awful consequences of death." Never rest therefore, until your peace be made with GOD through Jesus Christ, and your heart purified from every corrupt affection by his Spirit of grace, and then death may be viewed with peace, and embraced with joy.

And, to conclude, the same prospect of death, and uncertainty of life, should induce every considerate Tradesman to set his house in order. Let your books, and accounts be kept as clear and even as may be; suffer not long reckonings to lie dormant between yourself and others; for these will prove very troublesome, or it may be very prejudicial to those you leave behind. And after you have computed, as near as may be, the true value of your estates, make your Will. Death will be more easy, but not a minute the nearer for doing this. After you have settled a reasonable portion upon your wife and children, if