The weavers pocket-book, or, Weaving spiritualized in a discourse wherein men employed in that occupation are instructed how to raise heavenly meditations from the several parts of their work : to which also are added some few moral and spiritual observations relating both to that and other trades / by J.C.

CHAP. VI. Of the Various Causes of the De∣cay 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 Employ∣ed 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 Pla∣ces, 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 Disco∣very of other Countreys and of the VVorks of GOD and Man, of Na∣ture 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 Appre∣hensions in the things of GOD, hath been so Uni∣versal 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 neces∣sarily 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 con∣sonant 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 trust∣ed.

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 circumstan∣ced, 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 Go∣vernours, or in a short time come to nothing for want of it.

Let me now come to make some Spiritual Reflections upon these Ordinary Observati∣ons.

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 Consci∣ences of his People, is also as Obvious an Ob∣servation from hence. Men of the VVorld can think of nothing for them but Gaols and Bride∣wells. 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 Con∣sciences 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 Pu∣nished.

3. VVhat a Vast Difference their is, between the Earthly and the Spiritual Weaver? The Multiplication of Tradesmen in the former, a∣bates 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 Multipli∣cation 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 out∣side 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 dis∣charge

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 God∣liness, 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.

Notes

• pag. 47.