The Unlawfulness of Playing at Cards or Tables or Any Other Game of Chance, Title page – Dedication
A SHORT AND PLAINE DIALOGVE CONCERNING THE vnlawfulnes of playing at Cards or Tables, or any other game conſiſting in chance.
OFFERED TO THE RELIgious conſideration of all ſuch as make conſcience of all their waies.
1. THESSAL. 5.21.
Trie all things and keepe that which is good.
Imprinted at London for Richard Boile.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL MASTER LIONEL MADDISON, Maior, the Aldermen his Brethren, and the godly Burgeſſes of Newcaſtle vponupon Tine; IAMES BALMFORD Wiſheth the kingdome of God and his righteouſneſſe, that other things may be miniſtred vntounto them.
THat which heretofore I hauehave propounded to you (right Worſhipfull and beloued) in teaching, I doe now publiſh to all men by printing, to wit, mine opinion of the vnlawfulnes of games conſiſting in chance. My deſirets either information, if I erre in iudgement, or reformation of ſo leud a practiſe. But whether I erre or no (which yet I would gladly vnderſtand,*Rom. 3.7. for I ought not to teach an vntruth, though to Gods glorie) yet there is none, zealous indeede againſt ſin, deſirous from the heart to reclaime ſinners, and who deeply conſidereth the grieuous abuſes, which accompanie dicing and carding (as horrible ſwearing, dangerous quarelling, loſſe (I ſay not of good houres, but) of nights and daies, and the pitifull vndoing of too too many) but will remember that*1. Cor. 6.12. all things are not expedient, which are lawfull, and therefore abſtaine from ſuch Heatheniſh paſtimes, that, if by their example they cannot reforme, they may be ſure*1. Cor. 8.9. they doe not confirme gameſters in their inordinate walking. Which reſpect, the 7. Iniunction forbidding Miniſters to vſe theſe vnlawfull games, may be ſuppoſed to hauehave. Now that which authoritie exacteth of Miniſters, doth Religion require of all true Profeſſors. For as the one are to be*1. Tit 5 3. enſamples to the flocke, ſo the other are to be*Phil. 2.15 lights in the world. And therefore as Paul ſaith,*1. Cor. 8.10.13. If meate offend my brother, I will eate no fleſh while the world ſtandeth: ſo eueryevery true Chriſtian ſhould ſay, and that with more reſolution (for Play is not ſo neceſſarie as meate) If play offend my brother, who ſeeing me, hauing knowledge, play, is boldned to follow gaming, I will not play while the world ſtandeth. Which care vntounto edification, if all, who hauehave the*Pſal. 50.16.17. word in their mouthes, and would not bee thought to hate to bee reformed, would manifeſt in their ſincere conuerſation; and if Magiſtrates, who ſhould not*Rom. 13.4. carrie the ſword in vaine, would doe what they may by*33. H. 8. c. 9 5. E. 6. c. 25. law, to baniſh theſe forbidden paſt times, or rather loſt-times, I doubt not, but that preaching and writing againſt them would more mightily preuaile, and this good would come of it, many would applie themſelues to better exerciſes, there would bee leſſe time miſpent in Alehouſes, and God leſſe prouoked to diſpleaſure againſt vsus. But theſe things I referre to the conſideration of the wiſe, and this my Dialogue to the iudgement of the godlie, chiefly to you, whoſe good I wiſh eſpecially.
Farewell: From my ſtudie the firſt of Ianuarie 1593.