Now whether it be lawful to cast dice, if lots may not be used (as Solomons words, Proverbs. 18. 18. The ⟨image 17⟩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 1but voluptuous men make 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 to loose the gifts of God, which venturest to loose them when thou needest not? Doest thou not deserve to forget 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: 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 loose 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 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 he doth well? Tell me what ⟨image 17⟩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 be lawfull to cast dice, if lots may not bee vsed (as Solomons wordes, Prouerbes. 18. 18. The ⟨image 17⟩lot causeth contention to cease, compared with Heb. 6. 16. proue) but in hard matters and waightie causes, when the thing is doubtfull, and all good meanes are tryed before to auoyd strife: that question is decided, which none 1but voluptuous men make question of, namely, whether dice-play bee a meete exercise for a Christian soule. Salomon sayth, 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 owne, and no man striueth to take it from thee: but when thou castest the dice, thou doest (as it were) aske whether thine owne bee thine owne, and makest a strife of no strife. Art thou not worthy to loose the giftes of God, which venturest to loose them when thou needest not? Doest thou not deserue to forget thine owne, which art so greedy of anothers, that thou wouldest haue his liuing 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 giuen thee a liuing, and thou spendest it for nothing. The Mariners did cast lots to finde out the sinner: they did not cast dice to see who should winne, as Dicers doe: for to whom the lot falles, hee taketh all, which deserues to loose all as well'as the other, and hath no right vnto it by any lawe: for God hath not allowed one man to take anothers goods for the tripping of a Die, but eyther they must be merited, or they must be giuen, or they must be bought, or else it is vnlawfull, vngodly, vnconscionable to take them: Besides the brawles, the cosenages, the othes annexed to this game, which would not agree with it, vnlesse it had been a meete companion for them. Thou takest another mans goods for nothing, whereas God hath appointed thee to get thy liuing with the sweate of thy browes, for thou takest away that which others sweat for, and whereas thou shouldest liue by working, thou seekest to liue by playing, like as the ape which liues by toying. Doth any dicer thinke hee doth well? Tell mee what ⟨image 17⟩thinkest thou? for euery 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?
- 1Arguments against dicing. Pro. 18.
