A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 5 Whether it be lawfull to play at games which stand vpon hazzard and chance.

Contrariwise our care must be, that wee auoyd such recreations as are vnlawfull, which howsoeuer for the time they may bee pleasing vnto the flesh, yet leauing behind them the sting of sinne, they will, like the play of Ioab and Abners souldiers, be bitter in the end, and not bring vnto the mind any lasting delight, but at the best, mournfull repentance and afflicting griefe. And such are all those sports as are so vaine and light, that they will not beseeme Christian grauity; all those which tend to breake peace, and weaken loue, as bitter or scurrilous iesting, and rude horse-play; all lasci∣uious and effeminate sports which corrupt the minde, or weaken the body, inflame the lust, or poyson the manners, as vaine dalliance, and courting of women, chambring and wantonnesse, prophane stage-playes and Enter∣ludes, which make the Theater a Schoole of all impiety and profanenesse, lust and vncleannesse, and wanton dancing of both sexes one with another; especially in those light and lewd Lauoltoes and Corrantoes vsed in these times, which are so full of lasciuious and immodest gestures and actions, Goate-like iumpes and friskes of women as well as men; proclaiming wanton immodesty, and tending onely to the inflaming of lust, that they would not well beseeme an honest Pagan; and better fit a cunning Curti∣zan, who cast before men these alluring baites, that they may be catched in the snares of lust; then for a true Christian, who esteemeth modesty and chastity her best ornaments. Vnto these we may adde carding and di∣cing, as they are almost generally vsed. For suppose that all games at them are not simply vnlawfull, and that the argument of lots taketh no hold of them, because they are in nothing like, but as they are both disposed by Gods prouidence, which hath a chiefe stroke in disposing all things, or be∣cause (as they alledge) the most games stand not so much vpon chance and casualty, as on the Art and skill of the player, the which they thinke clea∣red by experience, in that a bungler playing with a cunning gamester, though he get some games, yet he is no constant winner, but if he continue long at play, is almost sure in the end to depart a loser; yea, let it be gran∣ted vnto them, either that they are not therefore vnlawfull, because proui∣dence ruleth them; which is not abused when we depend vpon it for deci∣sion of the least matters, but when it is ioyned with irreuerence and pro∣phanenesse, or that there is great Art and skill to be vsed in those games that are most casuall, without all deceit and imposture, which is allowed amongst all gamesters; yet can they not deny, but that they are lyable to many abuses, which are so generally incident vnto them that spend their time in them, that they are at least generally of euill report, in regard of their common abuse beseeming Christians, and dangerous snares, in re∣spect of common corruption to intangle vs in many sinnes, or else such multitudes would not be inueagled with them; as fretting and chafing, cursing and swearing, repining and murmuring against Gods prouidence, when it crosseth their pleasure, and doth not giue them such successe as they wish; sharpening their tongues like swords against it, and wounding

it with reproaches vnder the names, and (as it were) thorow the sides of lucke and fortune; that they are common theeues which rob men of much precious time, because they doe not, like other exercises, weary them with labour either of body or minde, and draw them on with expectation of new variety; yea, also rob many of their purses and states, more then any other recreations. For wheras in other games which stand most vpon skill and cunning, men being beaten are willing to giue ouer with little losse, when they find themselues therein inferiour to those who play with them; in these which stand so much vpon hazzard, their losses draw them on fur∣ther and further, out of an expectation of the changing of chance, and re∣couery of their losse. Now if any will say that they are neuer serious in these sports, and can so moderate their passions and affections, that they neuer bewray any such infirmities and corruptions, and can long play before they burst out into any of these sinnes, playing for little which they respect not, and only for recreation, and hauing such power ouer themselues, that they can take vp at pleasure, and spend at them as little time as they list; To such I answere, that if by the arguments which by Diuines are ordinarily brought against them (as the abuse of lots, and Gods prouidence directing them) they are proued simply vnlawfull, or if by them they are brought to staggering and doubting whether they be lawfull or no, then can they not be lawful vnto them, seeing he that playeth doubting, offendeth in playing; for whatsoeuer is not done of faith, is sin, though in it owne nature it be indiffe∣rent. But suppose that vpon thine owne grounds thou art perswaded, that such games are allowable; then my resolution is, that if withall thou hast such rule of thy passions and pleasures, that thou canst preserue thy selfe wel enough, both from inward fretting and outward fuming, from couetous desiring gaine by play, and canst also moderate thy selfe in expence of time; then it were thy best course to forbeare them altogether, and next vnto that to vse them rarely. For it is vnto thee a matter of small difficulty and labor, seeing he that hath truely such power ouer himselfe, that playing at these games he can with ease shun the abuses of them, may with much more ease refraine from vsing them; euen as it is much better and more safe to auoyd infected places, when we are at our choyce, then to goe into them, presu∣ming vpon our Antidotes and preseruatiues; to keepe our selues (if we can) from danger of being hurt and wounded, then to vndertake quarrels, trust∣ing to our valour and skill. Besides, if thou art a man of such excellent temper and moderation, it is pitty that so well a composed minde should not bee exercised in better imployments; for make the best of these games that thou canst, yet are they but of euill report, in respect of the daily abuse vnto which they are subiect; and though they were law∣full vnto thine owne single selfe, yet they may prooue offensiue to others, grieuing those who are well affected, and condemne these sports, to see thee so ill exercised, drawing on weakelings to follow thine example, who are apt to abuse them, wanting thy gouernement and moderation, and countenancing and incouraging those, who being loose and pro∣phane, make these games their ordinary occupation, to continue in their course, when they can excuse themselues by such patternes and pre∣cedents as are vertuous and religious. Finally, these games which are

vnto such multitudes the common causes of so much sinne and euill, cannot bee but somewhat dangerous vnto vs. And who, that respecteth not his gaine more then his safety, will walke aloft vpon a rope with much difficulty and perill, when as hee may securely goe vpon the firme ground? For hee that loueth danger, shall perish in it, it being iust vvith God, by vvithdrawing his helping hand, to let vs catch a fall, be∣cause wee rush into tentations, and take delight to walke in such slippery places.

Notes

• Rom. 14 23.
• Rom. 14. 15, 21.
• Ecclus. 3. 27.