A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 2 Whether it be simply unlawful to game for money.

§. Sect. 2 Whether it be simply vnlawfull to game for money.

But here it may be demanded, whether it be altogether unlawful to play for money? or if it be, whether wagering for money, and the winning ⟨p. 276⟩or losing of it in gaming be simply to be condemned? To the first I answer, that to play for money, that is, to make the winning of money the main and chief end of our recreation, which ought to be the fitting of us the better for Gods service and the duties of our callings, is utterly unlawful; seeing it is a corrupt and covetous desire to get money by an inordinate way which God never appointed. To the other I answer, that howsoever it were to be desired, that our minds were so well composed, and so weaned from all worldly things, that they might purely aim at their chief and main ends, without their help or any respect unto them; yet take us as we are, needing earthly helps to further us, even to the attaining of spiritual and heavenly ends; I cannot see (saving the better judgement of the wise and religious) that all kinds of interposing money in gaming, by way of winning and losing, is simply sinful and unlawful, if these cautions be observed. First, that it be but a trifle and small matter for which we game, which is to be measured according to the state and means of those that play; seeing an half-penny is more to a poor man then a shilling to a rich. For I call that a trifle, the losing whereof hurteth not him that loseth it, in respect of the smallness of it, and the greatness of his means. Even as a few drops are not missed in a whole bucket, nor many buckets-full abate the height of the river, nor many rivers running by their fountains from the sea, make it any whit at all the less full; and so it is in this case, because (as between the rivers and the sea) there is a revolution of these small winnings and losings, one winning at one time that which he lost at another, which will make a small difference between them at the years end. But here care must be taken, that this caution extend to both parties; neither is it enough that the money for which I play be a trifle unto me, unless it be so also to the party that gameth with me. For if I be rich and may well bear it, though I often lose; and he that playeth with me be poor, and unable to sustain the loss, there is inequality and want of charity;