A37049:682
A37049:682
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
Lots, are ordinarily divided into three sorts. 1. Divine, which are from extraordinary Warrants. 2. Devilish, wherein the Devil is either Invocated, or, in Circumstances, the Decision is put to him, and guided by him. 3. Humane, which are ordinarily gone about amongst men.
Again, They are divided: 1. In Divinatory. 2. Consultatory, ⟨p. 169⟩whereby men find out some-what that is Secret, as Saul found out Jonathan; or are led to some Duty. 3. Divisory, By such the Land of Canaan was divided, Joshua, 13.6. 4. Lusory, or, for Play: This division is large and Comprehensive, and hath several steps, according to the weight of the things, as they are greater or smaller, or indifferent.
Concerning them we say; That all Consultatory, and Divinatory Lots, except by an Extraordinary Warrant, are unlawful and a Tempting of God, who has now given us other ways and means, to direct us in what is meet for us to do.
Concerning them we say; That all Consultatory, and Divinatory Lots, except by an Extraordinary Warrant, are unlawful and a Tempting of God, who has now given us other wayes and means, to direct us in what is meet for us to do.
2. Concerning those Devilish Lots, there is no Question of the Abominableness of them; such as fore-telling of Fortunes, Horo-Scopes, or Deaths; the finding of things lost by naming of all suspected Persons, turning the Riddle, &c.
Yet 3. We dare not condemn all Divisory Lots, if rightly gone about.
Because, they are frequently made use of, in the Scripture; Joshua, 7.13, 14, and 15. &c. Acts, 1. Yea they seem to be, from the Light of Nature, Jona, 1. 2. The use of them, is Moral and perpetual, Prov. 18.18. To cause Contentions to cease, and to part between the Mighty. 3. When they are rightly gone about, they are a Honouring of God, and are a Manifest acknowledging of his Providence. I say, Rightly gone about: Where,
1. The matter should be weighty or of some Consequence; that is, It should either be weighty in it self; or it should be so by some Consequence, or Inconvenience; making a light thing, in it self weighty, otherwise it is (as Swearing is, in a matter of no moment) but a baffling of his Ordinance.
2. It should be Necessary, that is a thing, that without many Inconveniences, cannot be in another way decided: otherwise to put God to reveal his mind, in an Extraordinary way, when there is an Ordinary at hand, is a tempting of God; even as; to leap over a Wall is, while there is an ordinary passage to go through by.
2. It should be Necessary, that is a thing, that without many Inconveniences, cannot be in another way decided: otherwise to put God to reveal his mind, in an Extraordinary way, when there is an Ordinary at hand, is a tempting of God; even as; to leap over a Wall is, while there is an ordinary passage to go thorow by.
3. It should be with a due Respect to God, acknowledging him, to be the Decisor, calling on his Name in the Use of it, and ⟨p. 170⟩looking to him for the Decision, as we see almost in all Lottings, and even of those Heathens, Jonah, 1.
4. It should be gone about, in the right manner. 1. With Reverence, as if we were to hear God pronounce the Sentence, and speak his Mind; as while Saul is a taking, the People stand b •fore the Lord, 1 Sam. 10.19.22. 2. In the Faith that God guideth it; and so, without Anxiety and Fear. 3. In Singleness, Committing it to Him, even in Heart, as well as in Appearance; Abstaining from all Fraud or Tricks, or any thing which may have Influence, as a second cause, to mar or cast the Decision; this were a High way of mocking God, to put the Decision to Him, and yet to endeavour to give the Answer our selves.
4. It should be gone about, in the right manner. 1. With Reverence, as if we were to hear God pronounce the Sentence, and speak his Mind; as while Saul is a taking, the People stand b •fore the Lord, 1 Sam. 10.19.22. 2. In the Faith that God guideth it; and so, without Auxiety and Fear. 3. In Singleness, Committing it to Him, even in Heart, as well as in Appearance; Abstaining from all Fraud or Tricks, or any thing which may have Influence, as a second cause, to mar or cast the Decision; this were a High way of mocking God, to put the Decision to Him, and yet to endeavour to give the Answer our selves.
Lastly, After the Lot, there should be a Reverent Acknowledging of God's Mind, without Fretting or Grumbling, and a cheerful submitting to it, as we see in all the Cases instanced in Scripture. These Rules being observed, we think that for dividing of Stations or Charges; or of Portions, which cannot be otherways done, without Offence or Prejudice; Lots may be used.
Lastly, After the Lot, there should be a Reverent Acknowledging of God's Mind, without Fretting or Grumbling, and a chearful submitting to it, as we see in all the Cases instanced in Scripture. These Rules being observed, we think that for dividing of Stations or Charges; or of Portions, which cannot be otherways done, without Offence or Prejudice; Lots may be used.
Yet, I would say these few things, for Caution here:
1. Ye should not in petty things use them, when the matter is of no value at all, or of very small value; so that ye are indifferent, how it falls out: Or when it is not of that weight, that ye would give an Oath in it; but rather quit it, (and there would be here a Proportion kept,) ye should rather in such a Case hazard some Loss than put it to a Lot, out of that Reverence ye owe to God's Name: All the Cases in Scripture are weighty: In your Ordinary Merchandise, I desire you to remember this;
1. Ye should not in petty things use them, when the matter is of no value at all, or of very small value; so that ye are indifferent, how it falls out: Or when it is not of that weight, that ye would give an Oath in it; but rather quit it, (and there would be here a Proportion kept,) ye should rather in such a Case hazard some Loss than put it to a Lot, out of that Reverence ye owe to God's Name: All the Cases in Scripture are weighty: In your Ordinary Merchandize, I desire you to remember this;
2. Ye should not fail to use your Reason, and Honest Skill, more, in Sharings and Divisions, for preventing of a Lot. Folks some-times, betake themselves to these for ease, when yet their Reason, rightly made use of, might bring to a satisfying Decision. God hath not given Reason to Man in vain, or for nought: when Reason then may do it; essay it, and forbear a Lot.
3. Let it be in such a matter, and so used, as ye may seek God in it, and in call His Name by Prayer: To Lots in a thing, ⟨p. 171⟩that folks will not, or dare not pray in, agreeth not with Scripture examples, nor with that tenderness which a Believer should have at such a time: It should then be in a thing respecting a promise.
On the contrary, we may see how men fail here, 1. In weighty things, by not keeping the right manner before the Lot, in the time of it, and after it is past, when it endeth not strife. 2. In Trivial things, by making this too Customary; so that folk use the Lot almost in every thing, making that which is extraordinary to become ordinary, contrary to the nature thereof. It is an ultimate Judge and Decider, even as an Oath is for ending all Controversies: it is like unto Moses (as one saith), the great matters should be reserved to it; yea it is greater than Moses, its God himself, thus in His providence passing a Decision; The lesser things would be otherwayes Decided.