Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall

Lastly, a Lot is no religious act, nor holy thing of it self, as ^rbefore hath been shown: there is much difference therefore between Lots, and the word of God, Sacraments and Oaths. For these things are holy of themselves and in their own nature, as the very definitions of them will soon show: and therefore cannot but be holy. Whereas a Lot is not in the nature and the definition of it holy, and therefore is not always and necessarily sacred. Yea those things are now holy, as ever, in our ordinary use; whereas no Lot is holy that we can use now adays; nor indeed was ever any so, save extraordinarily. But Gods taking of any thing sometime extraordinarily or from ordinary use to apply it to some holy and extraordinary use, doth not exempt the kind in general, but the thing only it self so used in special from civill or light and ordinary usage; and that also so long only as it is so set apart: As the use of water in Baptism hindereth not but that a man may play with water, yea and with that very water that may afterward be a Sacrament in Baptism, or that hath so been, but is not now. In ⟨p. 156⟩like manner when a Lot shall be extraordinarily used for a special sign of Gods immediate election and choice, whosoever shall then contemn or set light by that Lot, he shall abuse an holy thing and Gods name in so doing; but not whosoever shall use otherwise any Lot to disport, yea though it were that Lot that had been used in such a business before; there remaining no more holiness in it after that use is over, then in ^sthe bush that burnt but wasted not, when God manifested himself to Moses in it, after that manifestation was once ended.

Lastly, a Lot is no religious act, nor holy thing of it selfe, as ^rbefore hath beene shewen: there is much difference therefore betweene Lots, and the word of God, Sacraments and Oathes. For these things are holy of themselues and in their owne nature, as the very definitions of them will soone shew: and therefore cannot but be holy. Whereas a Lot is not in the nature and the definition of it holy, and therefore is not alwaies and necessarily sacred. Yea those things are now holy, as euer, in our ordinary vse; whereas no Lot is holy that we can vse now adaies; nor indeed was euer any so, saue extraordinarily. But Gods taking of any thing sometime extraordinarily or from ordinarie vse to apply it to some holy and extraordinary vse, doth not exempt the kinde in generall, but the thing onely it selfe so vsed in speciall from ciuill or light and ordinarie vsage; and that also so long only as it is so set apart: As the vse of water in Baptisme hindreth not but that a man may play with water, yea and with that very water that may afterward be a Sacrament in Baptisme, or that hath so beene, but is not now. In