and of the most trifling Concern, God SERM, disposes of them only by a general Con- VIII, currence to the Action of the Creature, and giving them up to that natural Cafuality contained in them; I mean, it is the Nature of a Lot to be cafual, and therefore God doth not fee fit to alter its Nature, or to interpofe in so trifling a Concern by the particular Direction of his Divine Providence. This being rightly understood, it will plainly appear, that fuch Games, as depend upon Lottery and Chance, are in themselves lawful, though very liable to be abused; and that a good. Christian may safely make Ufe of them, for his Recreation and Refreshment, provided he keeps within due Bounds, and doth not tranfgrefs thofe Rules which the Christian Religion has fet: And what these are will be evident by fhewing,

V. THAT every good Christian ought to be very circumfpect in the Ufe of these Games; because they are very liable to be abused, and our daily Experience will convince us, that much Evil and Mischief is produced by them, the Devil making Ufe of the most innocent Recreations to infnare us into Sin; and either to make us retrench ourselves in our innocent Li

berty wholly, or to make them Traps,

and

SERM. and Snares, or Stumbling-blocks, in our VIII. Way. And therefore I have comprehended the most neceffary Rules of Play

or Lottery under these following Cau

tions:

I. LET us take Care that we do not spend too much Time in those Games. II. THAT Our Affections be not too deeply engaged in them.

III. THAT we do not play for Things
of too great Value.

IV. THAT we give no Offence to others.
V. THAT no Prophaneness, Prefumption,
or Superftition be intermixed with our
Sports and Recreations,

I. THAT we do not spend too much Time in these Recreations, and turn that into a Business and Employment, which ought to be made Ufe of only as a Diverfion from more ferious and weighty Matters. Our Time is a Talent intrusted with us by the great Proprietor of the World, of which a rigorous Account must be given at the Laft Day; and how will those Perfons be confounded when the Devil shall bring in his Indictment against them, "So much Time spent in Idle"nefs, and doing nothing; fo much in

cr

"Gaming, and doing worfe than nothing; SERM. fo many whole Nights" (which the VIII. Primitive Chriftians used to spend in Prayer and Devotion)" paffed away at "Cards and Dice; in lofing their own,

or in defrauding others of their Estates?" Is our precious Time thus to be fquandered away? And thofe gracious Opportunities, which God has given us to provide for our Souls, thus to be neglected? Can this properly be faid to live the Life of a Chriftian, when we do not fo much as design or aim at God's Glory, or to obtain any Good for ourselves or Neighbours? For Shame, let us make a better Use of these precious Hours, which fly fo fwiftly away, and yet, when they are gone, can never be recalled again. Let us use these and all other Diverfions in fo moderate a Manner, as not to occafion the Neglect of God's Worship, or any Omiffion of our Duty, either in our lawful Callings, or in the Care of our Families. Let fit and proper Times be taken for them, and fuch Rules and Limitations obferved, as Reafon and Chriftian Prudence will direct.

II. LET us take Care that we do not engage our Affections too deeply in thefe Games. They ought to be made

Ufe

SERM. Ufe of for Diverfion, not to be made our VIII. Bufinefs; and therefore, that Perfon, who

cannot be eafy at Play, who is apt to break out into inordinate Paffion on evil Succefs; who is as intent upon the Succefs of the Game, as if it was his Livelihood; who cannot be chearful when he lofes as well as when he wins; fuch an one ought to deny himself the Ufe of all Manner of Games, and wholly to refrain from them: Much more when he is apt to charge God foolishly; to break out into finful Paffions; to be peevish and quarrelfome; for fuch an one to use thefe Games, is to lead himself into Temptation, and to ftake his immortal Soul against a little Profit or Pleasure.

III. WE muft take Care that we do not play for Things of too great a Value. The right End of Play is not Gain, but Diverfion; and he, that plays for more than he is willing to lofe, tranfgreffes this Rule. Things of the leaft Moment only ought to be referred to the Decifion of Chance or Fortune; greater Matters ought not to be trifled away; we rob our own Families, or our Neighbours, when we play for more than either we, or our Neighbours, can conveniently part with, or may justly be expended by either of us, on

our

our lawful Diverfion. Our Eye and De- SERM, fign in Play ought not to be fixed upon VIII. our Neighbour's Goods, for this is a plain Breach of the Tenth Commandment; but our Defign ought to be our mutual Pleasure and Diverfion, and, fo far as we comply with this End, we act lawfully.

IV. IN our Use of these Games, let us take Care that we give no Offence to others, who are not convinced of the Lawfulness of these Games, or do not understand the Extent of our Gospel Liberty fo well as ourselves; for, if the Apostle would deny himself the Satisfaction of eating Flesh as long as he lived, rather than offend a weak Brother, it is certainly our Duty, to refrain from these Games, when we foresee that more Damage will accrue to others by them, than will be compenfated by the Satisfaction and Pleasure we take in the Use of them. Many there are who think all Games, depending upon Chance and Lottery, utterly unlawful; to draw in fuch Men to bear us Company in Play, contrary to the Dictates of their Confcience, or to play in Oppofition to their Commands, if they are our Superiors or Governors, is certainly to -give Offence to thofe, to whofe Judg

ments