A37046:667
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
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.
5. What is done without warrant of either Scripture-precept or practise, cannot be dose in faith? Now there can be no such warrant drawn from Scripture for such plays or games, the very foundation whereof is Lottery, and not only accidentally and rarely incident to them, as may be on the matter to other lawful recreations, if that can be called Lottery at all, which is rather an undesigned, unexpected surprising incident of providence; whereas in the other, the decision by a Lot is designed, waited for, and all along the game referred unto, and hung upon: yea, it is insuitable and inconsistent with the Scripture-way of using Lot is, which is always in most grave and important things; but this way of •sing them is manifestly to abuse them.
5. What is done without warrant of either Scripture-precept or practise, cannot be dose in faith? Now there can be no such warrant drawn from Scripture for such playes or games, the very foundation whereof is Lottery, and not only accidentally and rarely incident to them, as may be on the matter to other lawful recreations, if that can be called Lottery at all, which is rather an undesigned, unexpected surprizing incident of providence; whereas in the other, the decision by a Lot is designed, waited for, and all along the game referred unto, and hung upon: yea, it is insuitable and inconsistent with the Scripture-way of using Lot is, which is alwayes in most grave and important things; but this way of •sing them is manifestly to abuse them.
6. That which hath a native tendency to make any Ordinance of God vile and contemptible, cannot be warrantable; Now that Lotting in these Games hath such a tendency to make the Ordinance of a Lot, and of Prayer, which should at least be joined with it, Contemptible; is obvious to any serious and impartial considere• of it, neither can it in reason be thought that, that which is in so sacred a manner, and with Prayer to God, to be gone about in one thing, and is by Him appointed for such an end as an Oath is; can warrantably be used in a manner, and for ends so vastly different from the former in an other thing.