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

Which course of Lottery as it was undertaken of them, not ^uupon any general light of natural grounds, as some great ones without good ground have delivered, (for then might men imitate them now in the like case) or ¹by any special divine inspiration; as some others with as little likelihood have taught, but rather ^xafter the common manner of their own heathenish superstitions, ^yobserved (as is likely) by them then also in the use of it; and therefore was it no ^zlawful or warrantable, as some have said, but a wicked rather and unwarrantable course in them: so it took effect and fell out as it did, not, as some have imagined, ^aby force of the Lot used; or through the faith of them by whom it was used; or ^bby any ordinary course, ⟨p. 278⟩[…] ⟨p. 279⟩[…] ⟨p. 280⟩that in that kind God hath tied himself unto; or ^cin regard of any prayer conceived by Jonah as a Prophet, (a thing unlikely, considering his estate at that instant, in Gods displeasure, and guilty to himself that he was the man aimed at) but because ^dit pleased God extraordinarily making good use of their wickedness, secretly so to guide and dispose the event of that action, not regarding them or any act of theirs; but thereby to effect and work his own ends, that his fugitive servant might by that means be reclaimed and brought back to his obedience; and his power and providence be proclaimed among those, that were before altogether ignorant of either.