Needless therefore and unnecessary Lotteries though in things otherwise not unlawful, where they are likely to cause, or by experience are found to occasion much sin, are so far forth unwarrantable, because in that regard inexpedient. In respect whereof howsoever it were no unwarrantable course, in a matter of common or public benefit, as the reparation of a bridge, reedifying of an Hospital, erecting of a school or the like, for divers men of good ability to agree among themselves to put it to hazard what sums each of them shall disburse or dispend toward the discharge or support thereof, the sums being no greater then the estate of any of them may well bear, when they cannot readily agree upon a rate otherwise; as also for the better encouragement of either other in that kind, in common equally to contribute toward the price of a jewel, or some one of them to convert his part into some such commodity, to be conferred upon some one of them so contributing, whom by Lot it shall light to, their minds and states probably known either to other, I see here no reason why it should be unlawful. But for a man in this kind to put that to hazard which he knoweth or probably suspecteth that he shall be unable well, or unwilling on such terms to part with; the loss whereof in that regard may either disable him to the doing of other necessary duties, or distemper him and so make him guilty of sin in Gods sight; or to join with others needlessly in such an act, much more to draw them in and incite them thereunto, whom he knoweth not upon good presumptions ⟨p. 110⟩to be both able and willing; by means whereof they may be occasioned to sin in the same sort; especially in such an action as he cannot but see to be so carried that many abuses are committed in it, and occasion given by it of much evil; I cannot see how a man should be free from sin in so doing; neither can I conceive with what comfort of conscience a man can receive or retain what a Lot in such a case shall cast upon him, coming in all likelihood in part out of the purses of those, as either are altogether unable to part well with such sums, but have strained themselves thereunto out of a greedy desire and hope of lucre and gain; or being unwilling to loose and to part with what they put in, do in that regard wretchedly curse and blaspheme Gods name for the loss of it.
Needlesse therefore and vnnecessarie Loteries though in things otherwise not vnlawfull, where they are likely to cause, or by experience are found to occasion much sinne, are so farre forth vnwarrantable, because in that regard inexpedient. In respect whereof howsoeuer it were no vnwarrantable course, in a matter of common or publike benefit, as the reparation of a bridge, reedifying of an Hospitall, erecting of a schoole or the like, for diuers men of good ability to agree among themselues to put it to hazard what summes each of them shall disburse or dispend toward the discharge or support thereof, the summes being no greater then the estate of any of them may well beare, when they cannot readily agree vpon a rate otherwise; as also for the better encouragement of either other in that kinde, in common equally to contribute toward the price of a iewell, or some one of them to conuert his part into some such commodity, to bee conferred vpon some one of them so contributing, whom by Lot it shall light to, their mindes and states probably knowne either to other, I see here no reason why it should be vnlawfull. But for a man in this kinde to put that to hazard which he knoweth or probably suspecteth that he shall be vnable well, or vnwilling on such tearmes to part with; the losse whereof in that regard may either disable him to the doing of other necessarie duties, or distemper him and so make him guilty of sinne in Gods sight; or to ioyne with others needlesly in such an act, much more to draw them in and incite them thereunto, whom he knoweth not vpon good presumptions ⟨p. 110⟩to bee both able and willing; by meanes whereof they may be occasioned to sinne in the same sort; especially in such an action as he cannot but see to be so carried that many abuses are committed in it, and occasion giuen by it of much euill; I cannot see how a man should be free from sin in so doing; neither can I conceiue with what comfort of conscience a man can receiue or retaine what a Lot in such a case shall cast vpon him, comming in all likelihood in part out of the purses of those, as either are altogether vnable to part well with such summes, but haue strained themselues thereunto out of a greedy desire and hope of lucre and gaine; or being vnwilling to loose and to part with what they put in, doe in that regard wretchedly curse and blaspheame Gods name for the losse of it.
