A01540:311
A just defence of certain passages in a former treatise concerning the nature and…A iust defence of certaine passages in a former treatise concerning the nature and…
A just defence of certain passages in a former treatise concerning the nature and use of lots, against such exceptions and oppositions as have been made thereunto to Mr. I.B. Wherein the insufficiency of his answers given to the arguments brought in defence of a lusorious lot is manifested; the imbecility of his arguments produced against the same further discovered; and the point it self in controversy more fully cleared; by Thomas Gataker B. of D. and author of the former treatise.A iust defence of certaine passages in a former treatise concerning the nature and vse of lots, against such exceptions and oppositions as have beene made thereunto to Mr. I.B. Wherein the insufficiencie of his answers giuen to the arguments brought in defence of a lusorious lot is manifested; the imbecillitie of his arguments produced against the same further discouered; and the point it selfe in controuersie more fully cleared; by Thomas Gataker B. of D. and author of the former treatise.
London: printed by John Haviland for Robert Bird, 1623London: printed by Iohn Haviland for Robert Bird, 1623
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is true that I quote a sentence of Mr. Calvins in the margin, as concurring with me in one clause against which it is quoted. And I might ask why Mr. B. did not take notice of him a little before as well as he here doth. But that I frame any Argument at all out of him, much less ground that I deliver upon his or any other mans authority, is untrue. As for the differences between him and me herein by Mr. B. here imagined, they are very silly and frivolous. For first of all, doth not the use of a thing consist in the circumstances of it, as in the manner of using, and the like? Or what doth Calvin mean by the limiting of the use by those general rules, but the assigning of it such circumstances as ⟨p. 124⟩those rules give allowance of. aMany, saith he, take for granted, which yet I yield them not, that th• our liberty is by no qualification to be restrained, but that it is to be left to every mans conscience, to usurp so much of it as to himself seemeth lawful. I confess indeed that bmens consciences neither can nor ought to be tied herein to certain precise forms of laws: but since that the Scripture delivereth general Rules of the lawful use of them, according to those is it to be limited of us. Where Mr. Calvin saith plainly, that for the use of cthe outward necessaries of this life, (whereof recreation is one) there can no special precise rules be given out of Gods word, but it is sufficient for them that we be directed in the use of them by such general directions as the same word doth afford; which is all that I say. Yea he extendeth this dafterward to the very matter of our meat, drink and apparel, where he falleth upon the same point again. Yea but Calvin saith, according, and Mr. G. not against. Mr. B. is very curious, that can efind a knot in a bulrush. If those general rules be not violated, are they not observed? if there be nothing done against them, how are they violated? if nothing then be done against them, they are undoubtedly observed. It is all one therefore in effect to be according to them, and not against them; and Mr. Bs. exception consequently idle.