A37049:688
A37049:688
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.
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.
3. We may gather from what is said, what is to be thought of such Games and pastimes as run on Lottery (having that for the very foundation of them) and have an immediate dependence on providence for the issue of them.
3. We may gather from what is said, what is to be thought of such Games and pastimes as run on Lottery (having that for the very foundation of them) and have an immediate dependance on providence for the issue of them.
1. That they are Lottery cannot be denied, for they have all that is in Lotting; there is in them a putting of things to a doubtful event as to us; and that event is guided either by God, or by some other, and which-ever of the two, we say, it will be a Breach of this Command; so trivially for our pleasure to take the name of God in vain, as many formally do; for none can tell, how such a thing will come to pass by any reason.
1. That they are Lottery cannot be denyed, for they have all that is in Lotting; there is in them a putting of things to a doubtful event as to us; and that event is guided either by God, or by some other, and which-ever of the two, we say, it will be a Breach of this Command; so trivially for our pleasure to take the name of God in vain, as many formally do; for none can tell, how such a thing will come to pass by any reason.
2. That to do so, or to use a Lot in this case is a sin, may also be made out clearly, 1. Because it is against the end of Lots, which is to divide or decide where there is Controversy, and so it interverteth their end, and becometh sinful; even as Swearing were no Controversy is, is a sin. 2. There is either no necessity at all to take that way, or there is but a made-necessity of our own, it must therefore be a tempting of God; as suppose this to be the end of Lotting, to know in the upshot whether so much Money should belong to you, or to me; no doubt that point of right to whom the Money belongeth, may be decided as well at the entry; therefore this way of decision is in vain.
2. That to do so, or to use a Lot in this case is a sin, may also be made out clearly, 1. Because it is against the end of Lots, which is to divide or decide where there is Controversie, and so it interverteth their end, and becometh sinful; even as Swearing were no Controversie is, is a sin. 2. There is either no necessity at all to take that way, or there is but a made-necessity of our own, it must therefore be a tempting of God; as suppose this to be the end of Lotting, to know in the upshot whether so much Money should belong to you, or to me; no doubt that point of right to whom the Money belongeth, may be decided as well at the entry; therefore this way of decision is in vain.
3. That Lotting which hath in it no reverence to God, but ba •fleth his Name, nor is consistent with the right manner of ⟨p. 172⟩Lotting, cannot be lawful; but this is such: for it is not only, de facto, contrary to the former rules, but in its own nature is inconsistent with them; this is clear, 1. From the great frequency of Lotting in these Games. 2. In the little dependence on God for the event that is in them; and indeed a spiritual frame of dependence on him, cannot well, if at all consist with them. 3. From its inconsistency with serious prayer: what! can or dare men pray in earnest for Gods guiding in these things, in every throw of the Dice, or shuffling of the Cards? or in faith expect still the revealing of his Decree that way? or when it is done and past, can they suitably acknowledge Him in it? Men dare not look so seriously on these things, yea they know they dare not.
3. That Lotting which hath in it no reverence to God, but ba •fleth his Name, nor is consistent with the right manner of ⟨p. 172⟩Lotting, cannot be lawful; but this is such: for it is not only, de facto, contrary to the former rules, but in its own nature is inconsistent with them; this is clear, 1. From the great frequency of Lotting in these Games. 2. In the little dependance on God for the event that is in them; and indeed a spiritual frame of dependance on him, cannot well, if at all consist with them. 3. From its inconsistency with serious prayer: what! can or dare men pray in earnest for Gods guiding in these things, in every throw of the Dice, or shuffling of the Cards? or in faith expect still the revealing of his Decree that way? or when it is done and past, can they suitably acknowledg Him in it? Men dare not look so seriously on these things, yea they know they dare not.
4. That way of Lotting which cannot but occasion the wronging of the Name of the Lord; and his providence, cannot be right; but this is such: for we must say, that either Gods hand is not at all in such things, and so we deny his providence; or we must say that he may be put to it by this common and coarse way, and that in our sport, and for our pleasure in his immediate providence to declare his mind; which is a notable Baffling (to say so) and Profanation of his Name; hence it is that men so often Swear, Curse, Fret, and exclaim in these Games at Cards, Dice, &c. (wherein chance, luck, fortune, &c. are so much looked to, and in a manner deified) and altogether overlook and misregard the Majesty of God, as if he had no Providence at all in such things.
4. That way of Lotting which cannot but occasion the wronging of the Name of the Lord; and his providence, cannot be right; but this is such: for we must say, that either Gods hand is not at all in such things, and so we deny his providence; or we must say that he may be put to it by this common and coarse way, and that in our sport, and for our pleasure in his immediate providence to declare his mind; which is a notable Baffling (to say so) and Prophanation of his Name; hence it is that men so often Swear, Curse, Fret, and exclaim in these Games at Cards, Dice, &c. (wherein chance, luck, fortune, &c. are so much looked to, and in a manner deified) and altogether overlook and misregard the Majesty of God, as if he had no Providence at all in such things.
5. What is done without warrant of either Scripture-precept or practise, cannot be done in faith? Now there can be no suc • 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 Lots, which is always in most grave and important things; but this way of using them is manifestly to abuse them.
5. What is done without warrant of either Scripture-precept or practise, cannot be done in faith? Now there can be no suc • 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 Lotts, which is alwayes in most grave and important things; but this way of using them is manifestly to abuse them.