A01545:207
Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall
Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theological; written by Thomas Gataker B. of D. sometime preacher at Lincolns Inn, and now pastor of Rotherhith.Of the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall; written by Thomas Gataker B. of D. sometime preacher at Lincolnes Inne, and now pastor of Rotherhith.
London: printed by Edward Griffin, 1619
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.
To apply this to the present; In the Use of a Lot about a matter of it self otherwise not evil, if the Conveniences shall be so many and so weighty on the one side, that they may well weigh down whatsoever Inconveniences may be produced on the other side, there the action is Convenient, and a Lot therefore lawful: but contrariwise where the Inconveniences that shall necessarily or in good probability appear to accompany the thing questioned or ensue upon the doing of it shall be such and ⟨p. 104⟩so great, as the Conveniences that stand on the other side shall not be able to countervail, there the action is worthily disallowed as Inconvenient, and a Lot consequently unlawful.
To apply this to the present; In the Vse of a Lot about a matter of it selfe otherwise not euill, if the Conueniences shall be so many and so weighty on the one side, that they may wel weigh downe whatsoeuer Inconueniences may be produced on the other side, there the action is Conuenient, and a Lot therefore lawfull: but contrariwise where the Inconueniences that shall necessarily or in good probability appeare to accompanie the thing questioned or ensue vpon the doing of it shall be such and ⟨p. 104⟩so great, as the Conueniences that stand on the other side shall not be able to counteruaile, there the action is worthily disallowed as Inconuenient, and a Lot consequently vnlawfull.
Thus in public affairs for the giving of some few private men contentment to admit a Lot where the admission of it may in likelihood prove prejudicial to the public, were an unwise course and an unwarrantable, because the public weighing down the private maketh the action inconvenient. Where it is worth the observing that albeit among the Romans the ordinary employments of their Officers, and many other affairs were ordered oft-times by Lot, yet awhen any extraordinary accident fell out, or any business to be dispatched of more special weight, they either left wholly then their Lottery, or