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5. In all your affairs of moment, look after your business yourself if you wish to succeed.
6. Be always sparing, that you may still have wherewithal to spend.
7. Never spend presently, in hopes of gaining for the future. Wise merchants, while their goods are at sea, do not increase their expenses on land, but fearing the worst, secure what they have already in their hands.
8. Never buy but with ready-money: and buy where you find things cheap and good rather than for friendship or acquaintance sake ; for they perhaps may take it unkind, if you will not let them cheat you. For you may get experience, if nothing else, by going from one shop to another.
9. Be ready to give a good advice to all, but be security for none. And if a friend or relation press you to it, refuse it, and rather, if you can, lend him upon another's bond.
10. Let not thy table exceed the fourth part of thy revenue. And let thy provision be solid, and not far fetched; fuller of substance than art. Be wisely frugal in thy preparation, and freely cheerful in thy entertainment, Too much is vanity, and enough is feast.
11. If thou wouldst in a little time arrive to worldly preferment, be very industrious in thy calling, be what it will; that which is so sparing saved, may be with diligence improved. It hath been observed, that it is not less gainful to navigate in a small vessel which makes quick and frequent returns, than in that which returns but seldom, though deeply laden. Therefore Solomon directs the sluggard to go to the bee and ant: which infirm creatures plainly show how much the assiduity of industrious labour can effect.
