Now whether it be lawful to cast dice, if lots may not be used (as Solomons words, Prov. 18. 18. The lot causeth contention to cease, compared with Heb. 6. 16. prove) but in hard matters and weighty causes, when the thing is doubtful, and all good means are tried before to avoid strife: that question is decided, which none but voluptuous men make ⟨p. 154⟩question of, namely, whether dice-play be a meet exercise for a Christian soul. Solomon saith, the lot causeth contention to cease: therefore, lots are to end strife, but these lots make strife: for before thou takest the Dice, thou knowest thine own, and no man striveth to take it from thee: but when thou castest the Dice, thou doest (as it were) ask whether thine own be thine own, and makest a strife of no strife. Art thou not worthy ⟨p. 155⟩to lose the gifts of God, which venturest to lose them when thou needest not? Doest thou not deserve to forgo thine own, which art so greedy of another's, that thou wouldest have his living for nothing, but for turning of a Die? Esau did not sell his birth-right so lightly, but he had somewhat for it which refreshed his hunger, but God hath given thee a living, and thou spendest it for nothing. The Mariners did cast lots to find out the sinner: ⟨p. 156⟩they did not cast Dice to see who should win, as Dicers do: for to whom the lot falls, he taketh all, which deserves to lose all as well as the other, and hath no right unto it by any law: for God hath not allowed one man to take another's goods for the tripping of a Die, but either they must be merited, or they must be given, or they must be bought, or else it is unlawful, ungodly, unconscionable, to take them: Besides the brawls, the ⟨p. 157⟩cozenages, the oaths annexed to this game, which would not agree with it, unless it had been a meet companion for them. Thou takest another mans goods for nothing, whereas God hath appointed thee to get thy living, with the sweat of thy brows, for thou takest away that which others sweat for, and whereas thou shouldest live by working, thou seekest to live by playing, like as the Ape which lives by toying. Doth any Dicer think ⟨p. 158⟩he doth well? Tell me what thinkest thou? for every sinner doth condemn in his prayer to God, that which he excuseth before men: if they which are Gamesters repent it, how can they which are Gamesters defend it?
Now whether it bee lawfull to cast dice, if lots may not bee used (as Salomons words, Prov. 18. 18. The lot causeth contention to cease, compared with Heb. 6. 16. prove) but in hard matters and waighty causes, when the thing is doubtfull, and all good meanes are tried before to avoid strife: that question is decided, which none but voluptuous men make ⟨p. 154⟩question of, namely, whether dice-play bee a meet exercise for a Christian soule. Salomon saith, the lot causeth contention to cease: therfore, lots are to end strife, but these lots make strife: for before thou takest the Dice, thou knowest thine owne, and no man striveth to take it from thee: but when thou castest the Dice, thou doest (as it were) aske whether thine owne be thine owne, and makest a strife of no strife. Art thou not worthy ⟨p. 155⟩to lose the gifts of God, which venturest to lose them when thou needest not? Doest thou not deserve to forgoe thine owne, which art so greedy of anothers, that thou wouldest have his living for nothing, but for turning of a Die? Esau did not sell his birth-right so lightly, but hee had somewhat for it which refreshed his hunger, but God hath given thee a living, and thou spendest it for nothing. The Marriners did cast lots to finde out the sinner: ⟨p. 156⟩they did not cast Dice to see who should winne, as Dicers doe: for to whom the lot falls, hee taketh all, which deserves to lose all as well as the other, and hath no right unto it by any law: for God hath not allowed one man to take anothers goods for the tripping of a Die, but either they must bee merited, or they must be given, or they must be bought, or else it is unlawfull, ungodly, unconscionable, to take them: Besides the brawles, the ⟨p. 157⟩cosenages, the oathes annexed to this game, which would not agree with it, unlesse it had beene a meete companion for them. Thou takest another mans goods for nothing, whereas God hath appointed thee to get thy living, with the sweat of thy browes, for thou takest away that which others sweat for, and whereas thou shouldest live by working, thou seekest to live by playing, like as the Ape which lives by toying. Doth any Dicer thinke ⟨p. 158⟩he doth well? Tell me what thinkest thou? for every sinner doth condemne in his prayer to God, that which he excuseth before men: if they which are Gamesters repent it, how can they which are Gamesters defend it?
