A Just Defense of Certain Passages, Notice to I.B. – Errata
AN ADVERTISEMENT to Mr. BALMFORD.
IF Mr. B. shall thinke good to surreioyne, I would desire some few things of him (as I suppose) neither vnreasonable nor vnequall.
One is, that he will deale more faithfully than he hath here done, in relating either mine Arguments or mine Answers both for matter and manner; that is,
1. That he doe not in producing them mangle and maime them, cutting that away that is materiall.
2. That he alter not my phrase, but giuegive me leaue, as I doe him, to vtter my minde in mine owne termes.
Another is, that he would be pleased aforeign. Aristoph. eccles.to keepe close to the point: Or if he desire to be dealing bforeign.in by-matters, as in most of this he doth; that he would handle them apart from those things that concerne the maine cforeign.matter in controuersie, that the Reader who desireth to be therein more fully informed, may not be constrained to hunt after, what should giuegive him satisfaction, as if he sought dAcum in acere. Iul. Scalig. de subtil. exerc. 216.a needle in a bottle of hay.
To which purpose I require him to take notice what issue we are at, and as well what either is denied, or is to be denied, as what also is to be performed and made good, either in his Answer to mine Arguments, or in the defence of his owne.
For his Answer to mine Arguments.
In the first he denieth this Proposition: That which may be vsed in other Ciuill affaires either weighty or lesse weighty, may be vsed also in disport. I reply by way of Induction▪ and require foreign. Aristot. l. 2. c. 2.an instance to be giuen of any thing that may be vsed indifferently in the one and not in the other: that of an Oath will not serue.
In the second Argument, the former shape, he denieth this Proposition, That which best sorteth with the nature of a Lot, may a Lot most lawfully be vsed vntounto: which for my part shall neuer be further proued.
In the latter shape (the vaine cauill to the forme of it omitted) he denieth this Proposition; A matter of meere indifferencie, such as a man may lawfully doe or not doe, and it is not materiall whether he doe or omit, a man may lawfully put to the hazard of the vncertaine motion of the Creature whether he shall doe or no: yet with a restraint, vnlesse it be a matter controuerted. And let that, for me, rest too, and others iudge of it.
In the third Argument he affirmeth, The vse of a Lot in Game, as it is a Lot, to be against Piety, because it is not of faith; against Charitie, because it scandali…eth. That is an idle consequence; this euidently vntrue of a Lot in Game simply considered: and he maintaineth eueryevery Lot to be holy by some diuine Iustitution, which I require to be produced.
In the fourth Argument, he denieth nothing at all that I say, not conceiuing or vnderstanding mine Argument aright. I affirme any vse of the Creature lawfull, that it hath a naturall power vntounto, so the same be kept free from superstition, impiety, iniustice, and dishonestie. Which qualification he suppresseth, and so denieth the forepart.
In the fift Argument, he denieth nothing at all, but some Assertions of his owne framing, and the effect of the Conclusion. Lottery, say I, is a thing of it selfe indifferent, neither simply commanded nor forbidden: therefore by Mr. Fennors grounds, lawfull to be made matter of disport. Alusorious Lot, saith Mr. B. is forbidden, and therefore not indifferent. Which crosseth nothing but the Conclusion onelyonly in mine Argument.
The sixth Argument he miserably peruerteth, and in roome of it setteth vp one of his owne, which he keepeth much adoe with: Which I would wish him now to take better notice of, being in the plainest manner that may be laid open to his eyesight.
For the fuller answer whereunto, (because it is much materiall to the clearing of the present point in Controuersie) I would desire him onelyonly to shew by what Arguments or Argument deduced from Gods word, the vse of Boules and Chesse-play may be iustified. Not that I doubt whether it may be done or no; but that I may vnderstand how Mr. B. will doe it: not doubting but his manner of doing it, if it be sound and such as it should be, will bring much light to this matter.
For the defence of his owne Arguments.
In the first hee must proue, if he will make it good, that an immediate prouidence of God in eueryevery Lot, is proued out of Prou. 16. 33. which as yet he hath not done.
And if hee will disproue or ouerthrow mine Arguments against it, hee must affirme such an immediate prouidence in eueryevery Casuall Occurrent: as also a naturall power in man to make God worke immediately, and consequently miraculously at pleasure: and answer my reasons produced to the contrary.
In the second hee must proue the same, to wit, an immediate diuine prouidence in eueryevery Lot: for that is the ground of this also; and is oft repeated, neuer proued: and that once proued will effect all.
In the third he must proue that that place, Prou. 18. 18. doth so restraine the vse of a Lot to the ending of Controuersies in serious matters, that to no other vse it may be applied: to which purpose there is not a word here.
In the last, hee must make good, if hee will maintaine his owne Proposition, that nothing is lawfull whereof there is no example in Gods word.
Or if Mr. Easties, that nothing is by permission warrantable; or, Nothing warrantable but by precept.
These few points if hee can make good, all will soone be at an end. And these would be handled apart, (other by-matters discussed by themselues) that so what is said to the purpose may the better be seene, and the truth in the Point controuersed receiue the more light, which it cannot so well doe, *foreign. Plut. eretic. Hinc▪ Aristot. Topic. l. 6. c. 1. foreign, &c.when it is shuffled vp together with so much impertinent matter.
FINIS.
Some things omitted, or misprinted.
PAg. 6. lin. 24. after a…ow, put in it to be, yea and * meritorious too. and in the margine against it, * Si…usticus citra articulos credat suo Episcopo propon…nti aliquod dogma …, meretur in credendo, licet sit e…rer, &c. Tol…t▪ instruct. …. l. 4. c. 3. §. 6. Pag. 213. l. 11. after well, put in together. Pag. 232. lin. 19. in the margine put in • Matth. 5. 21, 22. Pag. 238. l. 4. put out the point after neither, and put it in after these. l. 5. after de…, put in, i…. Pag. 239. l. 8. after d…e, put in wholly, and after controuersies, put an interroga…ine point. Pag. 240. l. 14. put the like after reason? Pag. 257. l. • in the margine, for foreign- reade foreign- Pag. 259. l. 1. for … lawfull, if by rule, reade if lawfull, is by rule. Pag. 260. l. 3. for iustified, reade iustifie. Pag. 261. l. 9. after on, put in it. Pag. 263. • in the marg. after Gell… ) put in …. Pag. 270. l. • in the marg▪ for perpetu…, reade perpetuos.
End of the text · Thomas Gataker, A Just Defense of Certain Passages (1623)