A37046:670
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.
If it be said here, that these things are thought but very little of by men: Answ. It is true, and no great wonder; for most men use but to think little of the breach of this Command. Yet are their breaches sinful notwithstanding; as many take Gods Name in their mouth lightly, and think but little of it, and yet that maketh not their doing so, cease to be a sin. God hath added his Certification here the more peremptorily for that very end, that men may not think little, or lightly of the very least breach of this Command (to let pass more gross breaches of it.)
If it be said here, that these things are thought but very little of by men: Answ. It is true, and no great wonder; for most men use but to think little of the breach of this Command. Yet are their breaches sinful notwithstanding; as many take Gods Name in their mouth lightly, and think but little of it, and yet that maketh not their doing so, cease to be a sin. God hath added his Certification here the more peremptorily for that very end, that men may not think little, or lightly of the very least breach of this Command (to let pass more grosse breaches of it.)
If it be further objected here, Why may not such Plays or Games be used as well as other Plays, wherein sometimes Chance or Fortune (as they call it) will cast the Balance? Answ. 1. Though in those other, Chance may now and then occasionally occur, yet that is but accidental, these are simply, or at least mostly guided by Lotting, and immediate providences, and cannot be prevented or made to be other ways by the best art and skill of men. 2. In these other Games there is an intervention of second causes, and an use of mens parts; Natural and ⟨p. 111⟩Moral, for obtaining such an end ultimate (in some respect) and immediate; as for example, when men strike a Ball with a Club, or throw a Boll to a hole, they are guided therein rationally, as they are in coming down a Stair; and they act therein, as in other things by second causes and use of means, whether of Body or mind; but in these Lotting-Games it is not •o, for all is cast and hung upon extraordinary providence, even as if a man, who cannot, would be take himself to swimming in, or walking upon the Water, when an other betaketh himself to a Bridge, or to a Boat.