T. G. Mr. B. hath here given so sore a cut to his own cause, as ohe will never be able to cure again with all the skill that he hath. For what hath been the main ground, yea the only ground in effect whereupon these Games have been by his Master herein, himself, and those that concur with them condemned, but this, because they depend upon Casualty either in whole or in part? Ask Mr. B. himself why these Games are unlawful; the very pTitle of his Book telleth you, because they consist in Chance. In his Epistle dedicatory he repeateth the ⟨p. 191⟩same again. In the entrance into his Dialogue, Dice are therefore unlawful, because they depend upon Chance. And after, Dice wholly evil, because they depend wholly upon Chance; Cards and Tables somewhat evil because they depend somewhat upon Chance: And are therefore Lots, for from thence they have the denomination of a Lot, which in Latin is called Sors, that is, Chance or hazard; and therefore unlawful. And again, Whether you call Cards and Tables Lots or no, you play with chance or use Lottery, and by so doing make God an umpire in play, which must needs be a sin: because you take the name of God in vain and tempt the Almighty by a game some putting of things to hazard, and making play of Lottery. Again what do those words imply, the disposing of chance is secret that it may be chance indeed, and wholly of God: but that therefore it is wholly (that is in Mr. Bs. meaning immediately) of God, because it is Chance, which else it were not. Go• we a little higher from Mr. B. to his Teacher (as himself termeth him) herein Mr. F. qThe Nature of a Lot, saith he, lieth wholly in this, that although the thing be of us, yet the disposition is wholly of God, that is, he useth not our means of cunning, practise, strength, &c. but taketh it wholly to himself. And therefore Dice, dealing of Cards, &c. where the matter is laid on hazard (as they call it) or rather Gods providence, without using any cunning of ours to dispose, is upon the same reason of a Lot unlawful. Yea hence he inferreth that to say, rwhat luck is this! how crooked! is in plain terms (so he speaketh) as much as to say, what a God, or a crooked providence of God is this! as presuming that luck, chance, or hazard, ⟨p. 192⟩(for all is one in effect) is nothing else but Gods providence. Now what doth all this tend unto but this:
T. G. Mr. B. hath here giuen so sore a cut to his owne cause, as ohe will neuer be able to cure againe with all the skill that he hath. For what hath beene the maine ground, yea the onely ground in effect whereupon these Games haue beene by his Master herein, himselfe, and those that concurre with them condemned, but this, because they depend vpon Casualty either in whole or in part? Aske Mr. B. himselfe why these Games are vnlawfull; the very pTitle of his Booke telleth you, because they consist in Chance. In his Epistle dedicatory hee repeateth the ⟨p. 191⟩same againe. In the entrance into his Dialogue, Dice are therefore vnlawfull, because they depend vpon Chance. And after, Dice wholly euill, because they depend wholly vpon Chance; Cards and Tables somewhat euill because they depend somewhat vpon Chance: And are therefore Lots, for from thence they haue the denomination of a Lot, which in Latine is called Sors, that is, Chance or hazard; and therefore vnlawfull. And againe, Whether you call Cards and Tables Lots or no, you play with chance or vse Lottery, and by so doing make God an vmpire in play, which must needs be a sin: because you take the name of God in vaine and tempt the Almighty by a game some putting of things to hazard, and making play of Lotterie. Againe what doe those words imply, the disposing of chance is secret that it may be chance indeed, and wholly of God: but that therefore it is wholly (that is in Mr. Bs. meaning immediatly) of God, because it is Chance, which else it were not. Go• we a little higher from Mr. B. to his Teacher (as himselfe termeth him) herein Mr. F. qThe Nature of a Lot, saith he, lieth wholly in this, that although the thing be of vs, yet the disposition is wholly of God, that is, he vseth not our meanes of cunning, practise, strength, &c. but taketh it wholly to himselfe. And therefore Dice, dealing of Cards, &c. where the matter is laid on hazard (as they call it) or rather Gods prouidence, without vsing any cunning of ours to dispose, is vpon the same reason of a Lot vnlawfull. Yea hence he inferreth that to say, rwhat lucke is this! how crooked! is in plaine termes (so he speaketh) as much as to say, what a God, or a crooked prouidence of God is this! as presuming that lucke, chance, or hazard, ⟨p. 192⟩
- oAfferat ipse licet sacras Epidamius berbas, Nulla sanabit hoc tibi vulnus ope. uti Ovid. ferè Pontil. 1.
- pThe unlawfulness of games consisting in Chance.The vnlawfulnesse of games consisting in Chance.
- qFennor of Recreate. rule spec. 4.Fennor of Recreat. rule spec. 4.
- rIdem ibid.
