SECT. XI.
Of laying Wagers concerning the future Determinations of Divine Providence.
Sixthly. IMIGHT under this Head, add a modern Instance of Tempting the Providence of God, or that which I think is a
A discourse of tempting Christ by John Shower.
About this Item
- Title
- A discourse of tempting Christ by John Shower.
- Author
- Shower, John, 1657-1715.
- Publication
- London :: Printed by J.D. for John Lawrence,
- 1694.
- Rights/Permissions
-
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- Subject terms
- Jesus Christ -- Divinity.
- Christian life.
- Cite this Item
-
"A discourse of tempting Christ by John Shower." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A60130.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 20, 2024.
Pages
Page 68
very bold Trifling with it; for Men to lay considerable Wagers, and make a Trade of it likewise, upon the future Determinations of Provi∣dence, about the Success of Fleets, and Armies, &c. Whether such or such a besieged Town shall be taken, and delivered up upon such a Day or no. I would fain ask what Di∣rection there is from the Word of God, or what Example of holy Men in Scripture, or in former Ages, to countenance this Practice. What Encouragement have Men to pray for the Blessingof Heaven eve∣ry Morning, upon such new Me∣thods of getting Money? If you pray for Success in these Wagers, you must sometimes contradict ano∣ther part of your own Prayers, for the Progress of the Reformed Re∣ligion, and the Welfare of England; and if you wage one with another, God cannot hear one of you, with∣out denying the other, who lays on the other side. If Men lose an
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Estate, or bring themselves and Fa∣milies to Poverty or Straits, by such Methods as these; they will be apt to have many uneasy Thoughts about it, and hardly will be able to say with Job, It was the Lord who gave, and who hath taken away, Blessed be his Holy Name.
BESIDES that, it argues some∣thing in the Temper of Mens Minds, that is worse than the thing it self, viz. the want of a due Concern a∣bout the Publick Affairs of Europe, and of what God is doing in the World. But it not only discovers an ill Temper of Mind, but has a very great Influence to make it worse. As has been observed of several who have fallen into this new way of Trade.
SOME such Reflections, it may be, would reach unto other doubtful ways of Trade in this City. But I pretend not to understand Matters of Trade sufficiently, so as to give a positive Opinion in these Affairs;
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but earnestly desire you would re∣member, and consider this, That, in doubtful Cases, the safest side is to be chosen. And thus for Tempting God as to his External Providence.