A key into the language of America, or, An help to the language of the natives in that part of America called New-England together with briefe observations of the customes, manners and worships, &c. of the aforesaid natives, in peace and warre, in life and death : on all which are added spirituall observations, generall and particular, by the authour ... / by Roger Williams ...

Generall Observations of their Sports.

This life is a short minute, eternitie fol∣lowes. On the improvement or dis-improve∣ment of this short minute, depends a joyfull or dreadfull eternity; yet (which I tremble to thinke of) how cheape is this invaluable Jewell, and how many vaine inventions and foolish pastimes have the sonnes of men in all parts of the world found out, to passe time & post over this short minute of life, untill like some pleasant River they have past into mare mortuum, the dead sea of eternall lamentation.

More particular:

Our English Gamesters scorne to stakeLine 1 Their clothes as Indians do, Nor yet themselves, alas, yet both Stake soules and lose them to.

O fearfull Games! the divell stakesLine 2 But •…•…trawes and Toyes and Trash, (For what is All, compar'd with Christ, But * 1.1 Dogs meat and Swines wash?

Man stakes his Iewell-darling soule,Line 3 (His owne most wretched foe)

Ventures, and loseth all in sport At one most dreadfull throw.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phil. 3. 8. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉