Baxter's Christian Directory , page 454 “The first and principal thing to be intended in the choice of a trade or calling for yourselves or children, is the service of God, and the public good; and therefore that calling which most conduceth to the public good is to be preferred. The callings most useful to the public good are the magistrates, the pastors, and teachers of the church, schoolmasters, physicians, lawyers, &c. husbandmen: and next to them are mariners, clothiers, booksellers, tailors, and such other that are employed about things most necessary to mankind: and some callings are employed about matters of so little use (as tobacco-sellers, lace-sellers, feathermakers, wigmakers, and many more such), that he that may choose better, should be loth to take up with one of these, though possibly in itself it may be lawful. It is a great satisfaction to an honest mind, to spend his life in doing the greatest good he can: and a prison and constant calamity to be tied to spend one's life doing little good at all to others, though he should grow rich by it himself.
“When two callings equally conduce to the public good, and one of them hath the advantage of riches, and the other is more advantageous to your souls, the latter must be preferred; and next to the public good, the soul's advantage must guide your choice: as suppose that a lawyer were as profitable to the public good as a divine, and that it is the way to far more wealth and honour; yet the sacred calling is much more desirable for the benefit of your souls; because it is an exceeding great help, to be engaged by our callings to have the word and doctrine of Christ still before us, and in our minds and mouths;….
“If it be possible, choose a calling which so exerciseth the body, as not to overwhelm you with cares and labor, and deprive you of all leisure for the holy and noble employments of the mind; and which so exerciseth your mind, as to allow you some exercise for the body also…Many poor laborers can work with their hands, and meditate or discourse of heavenly things without any hindrance of their work; when many men of richer callings have scarce room for a thought or word of God or heaven all day….
“It is lawful and meet to look at the commodity of your calling in the third place, you may labor in that manner as tendeth most to your success and lawful gain: you are bound to improve all your Master's talents; but then your end must be, that you may be the better provided to do God service, and may do the more good with what you have….You may labor to be rich for God, though not for the flesh and sin.
“It is not enough that you consider what calling and labor is most desirable, but you must also consider what you or your children are fittest for, both in mind and body. For that calling may be one man's blessing, which would be another's misery and undoing. A weak body cannot undergo those labors that require strength; and a dull and heavy mind and wit, cannot do the works which require great judgment and ingenuity….
“Choose no calling (especially if it be of public consequence) without the advice of some judicious, faithful persons of that calling. For they are best able to judge in their own profession….
“If thou be called to the poorest laborious calling, do not carnally murmur at it, because it is wearisome to the flesh, nor imagine that God accepteth the less of thy work and thee: but cheerfully follow it, and make it the matter of thy pleasure and joy that thou art still in thy heavenly Master's service, though it be about the lowest things:…. Baxter's Christian Directory , page 377.
“Choose such a calling and course of life for your children, as tendeth most to the saving of their souls, and to their public usefulness for church or state. Choose not a calling that is most liable to temptations and hindrances to their salvation, though it may make them rich; but a calling which alloweth them some leisure for the remembering the things of everlasting consequence, and fit opportunities to get good, and to do good. If you bind them apprentices, or servants, if it be possible, place them with men fearing God; and not with such as will harden them in their sin.”