Nature and Use of Lots, To the reader – Quotations
TO THE IVDICIOVS and ingenuous Reader.
HOw backward I hauehave euer heretofore bin (best knowing mine owne weaknes) to publish ought by the Presse, they best know, who hauing oft pressed me thereunto, hauehave neuer hitherto therein preuailed. Now a twofold necessitie is imposed vponupon me of doing somewhat in this kind, partly by the importunity of diuers Christian frends, religious and judicious, who hauing either heard, being partakers of my publike Ministery, or heard of by report of others, or vponupon request seene some part of this weake worke, hauehave not ceased to sollicite the further publishing of it: As also partly, (and more specially) by the iniquitie of some others, who being of contrary iudgment in some particulars therein disputed, hauehave bin more forward than was fit by vn-christian slanders and vncharitable censures to taxe and traduce both me and it. From whose vniust and vndeserued aspersions no way seemed better and readier to cleare either, than by offring to open view of all, what I had before deliuered in an obscure auditorie (to speake of) among but a few. And this thou hast here (good Reader) for effect and substance the same that was then and there deliuered, inlarged onelyonly with such matter of History and Humanitie as was not so fit to pester the Pulpit or incomber that Auditorie withall. For the occasion of entring first into this discourse, and motiues of wading so far in it, I referre thee to aChap 9. §. 10.that part of it where I render an account thereof, vnwilling to stay thee longer, than needs must be, in the entry. If any shall surmise that writings in this kind may occasion too much liberty, a thing that litle needeth in this ouer-licentious age: I answer breifely; first that bSee Gerson in regul. m…r. & Nider in consolat. timoraonscieuc. part. 3. c. 20. ad Cap. 9 § 10.it is vnequall that for the loosenes of some dissolute, the consciences of those that be godly disposed should be entangled and ensnared: and secondly, that whosoeuer shall take no more liberty than by me is here giuen, shall be sure cRead the whole 9, Chapter.to keepe within the bounds of Piety, of Sobriety, of Equity, and of Charity: than which, I know not what can be more required. For no sinister end (I protest before Gods face and in his feare) vndertooke I this taske; neither hauehave I auerred or defended ought therein, but what I am verily perswaded to be agreeable to Gods word. If any man can better informe me in ought, I shall be right ready to hearken vntounto him: neither hauehave I neglected any meanes in this kind, (by writing & conference with others, besides mine owne priuate labors) that might further me therein. Defects in it (I know) there can not but be many: what, or whose worke is free from them? mine of many, much more: too many my selfe see; and many more (I well wot) a curious eye may soon espie. Let them in frendly and louing manner be shewed me by any; (as forme hauehave already bin by by some; whom I rest beholden to for it) and I shall count it a speciall kindnes. Where defects shall appeare, let it yet be considered, whether they be vitall and fundamentall or no, such as touch the very heart and life of the maine matter, or such as notwithstanding them the frame (or foundation at least) may stand firme: And withall let it be remembred that I deale in an Argument that hath hitherto bin handled very confusedly by the most, and not very soundly by the best; as to any indifferent eye vponupon due view of this present discourse may very euidently appeare. Of thee (whosoeuer thou art) I desire but to finde an vnpartiall Reader, a judicious discusser, and a charitable censurer; that dPraeiudicium enī non est indiciū, sed vitium. Aug. ad fra…r. inerem.what I hold be not condemned out of prejudice vnheard; eNe mea dona tibi studio dispost…a fideli, Int…ll…cta prius quae sint, contempta relinquas. Lucret. de terum nat. l 1.what I proue be not rejected because it is not conceiued; and fforeign dictū Theodori Athei reference Piu arch… lib. de Tra…quillis.what I profer with the right hand be not taken with the leaft, but that Charity may continue with diuersitie of iudgment, if thou shalt in ought remaine yet vnsatisfied; a course too too much wanting in this vncharitable age. And this fauourable acceptance if these my sory first-fruits shall finde, it may encourage a weake beginner to attempt somewhat further hereafter, that may be of better vse. Them and thee I commend both to him, who is the Author of all Truth, the clearing whereof hath bin in this worke my maine ayme: He vouchsafe a blessing; and through his blessing the labor (I hope) shall proue not vnfruitfull.
Thine in Christ T.G.
The Contents of this Treatise.
CHAP. 1. What a Lot is; and of Loterie in generall.
pag 1.
CHAP. 2. Of Chance or Casualtie; and of Casuall Euents.
p. 9.
CHAP. 3. Of the seuerall Sorts or Kindes of Lots.
31.
CHAP. 4. Of Ordinarie Lots Serious.
35.
CHAP. 5. Of the Lawfulnes of such Lots: with Cautions to be obserued in the vse of them.
84.
CHAP. 6. Of Ordinarie Lots Lusorious: and of the Lawfulnes of them.
117.
CHAP. 7. Answer to the principall Obiections made against Lusorious Lots.
140.
CHAP. 8. Answer to the Arguments vsed against them lesse principall.
181
CHAP. 9. Of Cautions to be obserued in the vse of them.
236.
CHAP. 10. Of Extraordinarie or Diuinatorie Lots.
268.
CHAP. 11. Of the vnlawfulnes of such Lots.
298.
CHAP. 12. An admonition to auoide them; with answer to some Arguments produced in defence of them: and the Conclusion of the whole.
331.
Escapes of some moment to be amended.
PAge 5. line 9. zsed for vsed. p. 20. l. 8, 9. those words, And the like error they commit, when they define should hauehave beene in an Italicke Character as part of Lanctantius his speech p. 25. l. 26. foreknew for forchnew it. p. 48. l. 23. de…igned for de…igned, p. 55. l. 11. a part for apart. p. 65. l. 20. besel for befel. p. 71. l. 2. complained for complaineth. p 73. l. 24. Examples for the Examples. p. 96. l. 27. diuideth for diuideth. p. 100. l. 24. now for not now. pag. 103. lin. 15. iudgement, either ag. other for iudgement either ag. other, p. 106. l. vlt. with for with, p. 110. l. 28. Lot for a Lot. p. 124. l. 5. thoes that for those that. p. 163. l. 24. so? for so. p. 198. l. 21. folovving for flowing. p. 236. l. 1. Chap. VIII for IX. p. 244. l. 18. drunck at it, for drunck with it, p. 24. l. 14. great for greater. p. 330. lin. 14. this for his.
In the Margine.
Page 6. l. p foreign for foreign p. 12. lit. f Amphion for Agatho. p. 27. l. … illuc est for illic est. p. 40. l. p foreign for foreign. p. 52. lit. f quū for quā li. …. anno 11. c. for anno v. c. p. 63. l. f Luk. for Luk. 4.18.24. p. 79. l. k foreign for foreign. p. 81. l. a foreign for foreign. p. 82. l. r rarò for raro. p. 104. l. c. penis for Poenis. 219. l. t quibusquā for quibusdam. p. 246. l. f Lusori for Lusuri. p. 282. l. r in bonam for in bonam partem. p. 298. l. r duxerit for duxerint. ibid. sortilgia for sortilegia.
Occolampadius de scriptis suis.
foreign.
foreign.
Sibenè quid scripsi, Christo gratare datori:
Si malè quid scripsi, noveris esse meum.