A01545:531
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.
And again the poorer sort, on the other side, though they complain of penury, yet will not be beaten from play: even those that will pretend want, to shift of the least common charge, yet will make shift to get somewhat wherewith to hold game: who when they have spent what they had that way, wanting means to recover ought soon or suddenly again, and being inured to idleness by such thriftless haunts, are enforced oft to betake themselves afterward to such courses, as bring upon them at length as well loss of life as of living.
And againe the poorer sort, on the other side, though they complaine of penury, yet will not be beaten from play: euen those that will pretend want, to shift of the least common charge, yet will make shift to get somewhat wherewith to hold game: who when they haue spent what they had that way, wanting meanes to recouer ought soone or sodainely againe, and being enured to idlenesse by such thriftlesse haunts, are enforced ost to betake themselues afterward to such courses, as bring vpon them at length as well losse of life as of liuing.
But here is a question moved among the learned, whether a man may play for, or wager ought in play. And it is a question that requireth a larger discourse throughly to discuss it, then this present work, growing already too great, will well permit. Some utterly condemn it: and I have seen of late in writing 2along discourse containing sundry arguments tending thereunto: of which yet (a to speak my mind freely, and ingenuously without exception to the Author, whom I think reverently of otherwise, though in judgement dissenting from him herein) I am not able to apprehend the force and validity. Neither indeed can I discern ought that should make it unlawful for a couple of familiar friends to put it to the event of a game, whether of them shall part with such a trifle to the other, as either of them may spend lawfully at that present upon his pleasure, or they might otherwise well freely bestow either on other.