A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 23
CAP. XXIII.
The laſt caution is, that our Recreation be a liberall exerciſe, and not ſordid for gaine.
§. Sect. 1 That greedy gaming for gaine is vnlawfull.
THe laſt caution to be obſerued, is, that we vſe our recreations as a liberall exerciſe, and not as a ſordid trade to get money. To which end let vsus know, that if we vſe gaming with a greedie and couetous deſire, to inrich our ſelues by impoueriſhing others, it is but an inordinate courſe, which God neuer appointed and bleſſed to get wealth, and conſequently no better then theft; yea heerein worſe then the moſt thefts, in that other theeues rob ſtrangers, but theſe commonly their friends and familiar acquaintance, and in that it is committed by mutuall agreement, whereby the loſer becommeth an acceſſary to the theft of the winner, and ſo is as well as hee a robber, not onelyonly of himſelfe, but alſo of his wife and children. As alſo becauſe the couetous delight which they take in this kinde of gaming, not onelyonly robbeth them of their riches; in which reſpect, the ſaying of the Wiſe man may be applied and appropriated heereunto, that he who loueth pleaſure, ſhall be a poore man; but alſo ſpoileth them of their hearts, ſo that Pro. 21. 17.after much loſſe and great experience of this gameſome miſery, they hauehave neither power nor will to leaue their folly, and to be better husbands for the time to come. Let vsus know, that by ſuch kinde of greedy gaming, we ſet our hearts and mindes vponupon a ſtrange kinde of racke, which pleaſeth in tormenting, and tormenteth in pleaſing; euen the racke of tumultuous paſſions, which draw and diſtract vsus diuers wayes; one while hoping, another while fearing; now reioycing, and ſoone after grieuing and fretting at our loſſe. Finally, that ſuch will hauehave a fearefull reckoning to make at the day of Iudgement, not onelyonly of their precious time, lauiſhly miſ-ſpent in theſe vaine and wicked exerciſes, but alſo of their wealth lewdly waſted and conſumed, when in their accounts there ſhall be found ſo much waſted in gaming, and ſo little giuen to the poore, and to religious and charitable vſes, or imployed in thoſe workes of mercy, which Chriſt hath graciouſly promiſed ſhould be ſo richly rewarded at the laſt day.
§. Sect. 2 Whether it be ſimply vnlawfull to game for money.
But heere it may be demanded, whether it bee altogether vnlawfull to play for money? or if it be, whether wagering for money, and the winning or loſing of it in gaming be ſimply to be condemned? To the firſt I anſwere, that to play for money, that is, to make the winning of money the maine and chiefe end of our recreation, which ought to be the fitting of vsus the better for Gods ſeruice and the duties of our callings, is vtterly vnlawfull; ſeeing it is a corrupt and couetous deſire to get money by an inordinate way which God neuer appointed. To the other I anſwere, that howſoeuer it were to be deſired, that our mindes were ſo well compoſed, and ſo weaned from all worldly things, that they might purely ayme at their chiefe and mayne ends, without their helpe or any reſpect vntounto them; yet take vsus as we are, needing earthly helpes to further vsus, euen to the attaining of ſpirituall and heauenly ends; I cannot ſee (ſauing the better iudgement of the wiſe and religious) that all kinds of interpoſing money in gaming, by way of winning and loſing, is ſimply ſinfull and vnlawfull, if theſe cautions be obſerued. Firſt, that it bee but a trifle and ſmall matter for which we game, which is to be meaſured according to the ſtate and meanes of thoſe that play; ſeeing an halfe-penny is more to a poore man then a ſhilling to a rich. For I call that a trifle, the loſing whereof hurteth not him that loſeth it, in reſpect of the ſmalneſſe of it, and the greatneſſe of his meanes. Euen as a few drops are not miſſed in a whole bucket, nor many buckets-full abate the height of the riuer, nor many riuers running by their fountaines from the ſea, make it any whit at all the leſſe full; and ſo it is in this caſe, becauſe (as betweene the riuers and the ſea) there is a reuolution of theſe ſmall winnings and loſings, one winning at one time that which he loſt at another, which will make a ſmall difference betweene them at the yeeres end. But heere care muſt be taken, that this caution extend to both parties; neither is it enough that the money for which I play be a trifle vntounto me, vnleſſe it be ſo alſo to the party that gameth with me. For if I be rich and may well beare it, though I often loſe; and he that playeth with me be poore, and vnable to ſuſtaine the loſſe, there is inequality and want of charity; ſeeing in drawing him or conſenting to accompany him in ſuch great game, or ſmall game, yet greater then his poore ability can afford to loſe; I ſhall doe him hurt, and thoſe perhaps that belong vntounto him. The ſecond caution is, that the chiefe motiue inducing men to play, be not greedineſſe of gaine and couetouſneſſe, which may poſſibly creepe into little trifles, ſeeing it will play at ſmall game rather then ſit out, and being an hungry diſeaſe, will ſnatch at a cruſt, when as no better prouiſion is ſet before it. But this ſmall play muſt chiefly tend to our recreation and refreſhing of our bodies and minds, for which it is more fit then greater, becauſe it leaueth no place (vnleſſe there bee more fault in the party then in the play) vntounto tumultuous and diſordered paſſions. And if theſe cautions be obſerued, playing for money (as I thinke) is not ſinfull and vnlawfull, becauſe it neither offendeth againſt charity nor againſt Iuſtice. Not againſt charity, ſeeing it tendeth not either to the hurt of our neighbour or of our ſelues, but to the good of both, ſeruing to make our recreation more pleaſant and delightfull; ſeeing it cauſeth vsus to be more earneſt at our ſport, and ſetteth an edge on our appetite; whereas otherwiſe we ſhould be ſlacke and careleſſe, not regarding whether we winne or loſe; in which ſloth and remiſneſſe, there can be no delight; and maketh men carefull to obſerue the rules and orders of the game, which otherwiſe would be neglected, the one not caring to vſe, nor the other to require true and faire play; ſeeing bare conqueſt, vnleſſe it be crowned, is little regarded. Neither is iuſtice violated, if true owners take vponupon them to diſpoſe of ſome ſmall part of their goods, which they can well ſpare from their neceſſary vſes, for their honeſt recreation and delight; and by mutuall agreement conſent to hazzard a ſmall wager (which is to be the reward of him that getteth the victory) to bee either wonne or loſt betweene them. Now if any obiect, that this kinde of gaming is againſt charity, becauſe loſſe of a little is a little hurt, though he that loſeth be not ſenſible of it, becauſe it cannot be miſſed, by reaſon of the greatneſſe of his meanes: To this I anſwere, that it deſerueth not the name of hurt, which is ſo little that it is not ſenſible; or though it were ſo indeed, it is ſufficiently recompenſed by that delight which it addeth to our recreation of which I hauehave ſpoken. Neither is it vnlawfull to purchaſe our pleaſure, or any acceſſe vntounto it, when as we may hauehave it at ſo eaſie a rate. Nor is this obiection of any moment to ſay, that though that wee loſe be of ſmall value, as an halfe-penny or penny, yet it might better be imployed and giuen to the poore, ſeeing we are not bound to giuegive all that we can ſpare from our neceſſary occaſions vntounto theſe vſes, but may lawfully ſpend ſomewhat for our honeſt delight; for by the ſame reaſon we ſhould be bound to vſe onelyonly meane apparell and few ſuites, though wee were neuer ſo rich, and but one or two diſhes at our table, if our company be ſmall, becauſe this is ſufficient to keepe vsus warme, and ſatisfie hunger. Neither can our play hinder our almes, if our game be ſo little, that wee hauehave plenty for both vſes. Yea, though we would giuegive all we can ſpare from our neceſſary imployments, to the reliefe of the poore, yet playing for a little would not hinder our charity, ſeeing we winne at theſe games as well as loſe, and being ſo charitably affected, are more ready to giuegive out of our winnings, then hauing plenty and ſufficiency, to forbeare giuing becauſe of our loſings. Againe, whereas it may be obiected that ſuch kind of gaming is againſt Iuſtice, becauſe we play with a deſire to winne other mens goods, and ſo fall into the ſinne of couetouſneſſe: To this I anſwere, that ſimply to deſire other mens goods, were iniuſtice, but not ſo, when it being vponupon equall hazzard of our owne, we may loſe as well as winne. Or if we ſhould deſire their goods againſt their will, it were vniuſtice; but not when they are willing we ſhould hauehave them, not abſolutely, but vponupon a contract and agreement betweene vsus, which hath this condition, that they ſhall hauehave them that winne them. Yea, but can we be excuſed of inward couetouſneſſe, although there be no outward iniuſtice, ſeeing we ſtand not equally affected, but deſire to winne rather then to loſe? I anſwere, that deſire of winning doth not ſimply argue couetouſneſſe; but to propound gaine as the maine end of our play, and not our recreation; not when we deſire to winne in playing, but when wee play out of a greedy deſire of winning. For play being a kinde of friendly combate and contention, wherein we ſtriue who ſhall ſhew moſt skill and actiuity, eueryevery one doth naturally deſire to get the victory, not ſimply in regard of the gaine that ariſeth of it, but becauſe it is a ſigne and euidence, that in Art and cunning he excelleth him with whom he contendeth; and contrariwiſe auoideth loſſe, not for the value of that he loſeth, but becauſe it argueth his defect and inſufficiencie in skill, and that therein he is inferiour vntounto him with whom he playeth, ſeeing he hath got the victory. Euen as in hunting, thoſe that are rich or noble, take great paines in purſuing their game, not out of a deſire to kill it, that the poore Hare may furniſh their table, which in reſpect of gaine were but a ſmall reward for their great labour; for in this regard when ſhe is killed, they could willingly wiſh, that ſhee were aliue againe, that by renuing her life, they might hauehave a fit ſubiect for the renuing of their pleaſure, and yet whileſt they are hunting, they deſire not onelyonly their ſport and exerciſe, but euen to kill her, becauſe it is the conſummation of their paſtime, and the Trophy of their victory. But yet leſt there ſhould be any feare that couetouſneſſe (which is a cunning inſinuater, and ſticketh as faſt to corrupted nature, as the ſhirt to the skin, yea as the skin to the fleſh) doth yet lye lurking in our recreation, we may agree in our gaming, that the winnings ſhall not come into the winners purſe, (although in this reſpect it lawfully may, that his winnings at one time may make amends for his loſſes at another, which if there be no quitting, will come to more then he is willing to ſpare) but that it be conuerted to the vſe of the poore, or beſtowed when it commeth to a conuenient ſum, partly this way, and partly vponupon louelove-feaſts, for the preſeruing and increaſing of amity and friendſhip one with another.
§. Sect. 3 A ſerious admonition that none abuſe their liberty in recreations of this nature.
And theſe are the reaſons that induce mee to thinke that playing for money, if the former cautions be obſerued, is not vnlawfull. Now if any abuſe this liberty vntounto licenciouſneſſe, and vnderunder colour that it is in ſome caſes lawfull, will vſe, or rather abuſe it vnlawfully, without any care to obſerue theſe cautions; his ſinne bee vponupon his owne ſoule; ſeeing it is farre from mine intention to incourage any in their ſinfull courſes, or that my writings ſhould be any cauſe or occaſion of hartening any in thoſe ſhamefull abuſes of gaming for money, which are too too common in theſe dayes, whereby miſ-ſpending their precious time, they alſo conſume their ſubſtance, and vtterly ſpoile one another with much more pernicious robbery then can bee committed by common theeues by the high-way ſide. For they ſeldome take any one mans purſe; but theſe often, and with it euen their houſes and lands, and all that they poſſeſſe, which are free enough from the others violence; beſides innumerable other miſchiefes which accompany theſe loſſes, and many outragious ſinnes committed againſt God, their neighbours and themſelues. Yea ſeeing the end of lawful liberty, is to preſerue men from lawleſſe licenciouſneſſe, I was willing to extend it as farre as the Word of God would permit, that it might moue all men more willingly to containe themſelues within the compaſſe of their duties, when as they may hauehave ſufficient meanes of comfort and refreſhing allowed them, within thoſe lawfull bounds which God hath limited. Now if any be rich, and yet will ſteale, he is twice worthy to bee hanged; if any be ſuch vnruly beaſts, that hauing pleaſant paſtures, watered with the delightfull ſtreames of Chriſtian comforts, which like liuing waters are conſtant in their flowing, without the ſtops and checks of conſcience, out of Gods rich bounty allotted vntounto them, and yet will not be contented, nor quietly graze vnderunder the conduct of our heauenly Shepherd, but will leape ouer hedge and ditch, and breake thorow all fences, that they may come into forbidden paſtures, becauſe they hauehave rancker graſſe, not ſo ſweete in it ſelfe as their owne feede, but more pleaſing to their carnall appetite, becauſe they can deuoure it with full mouthes; and out of a deſire to drinke of ſtolne waters, becauſe they are ſweeter to a fleſhly palate; then ſurely ſuch are well worthy to be turned out into the bare commons of penury and miſery in this life, and if they repent not of their folly, to be eternally pounded in hell in the life to come. And ſo much of the firſt kinde of ceſſation from our labours by lawfull recreations; of which I hauehave ſpoken much more largely then at the firſt I intended, becauſe howſoeuer it may ſeeme but a light ſubiect to beſtow much paines vponupon; yet I plainely perceiued, that it is of no light conſequence; ſeeing it is a matter that concernes all men, and not ſeldome, but almoſt eueryevery day of their liues; ſeeing alſo nothing is more commonly abuſed vntounto ſinne, it being one of Satans moſt alluring baites, to intice vsus to come within the compaſſe of his pernicious nets and ſnares of wickedneſſe; and finally, becauſe that many who truely feare God, and deſire to vſe them with a good conſcience, indeuouring to pleaſe him as well in their recreations as their labours, yet know not how to doe it as they ought, and ſo out of ſcruple and timorous doubting forbeare them altogether, or elſe tranſported with their pleaſure, take greater liberty then God hath allowed them, which though it bee ſweete for the preſent, yet in the end it turneth to bitterneſſe. In all which reſpects there are few other things in the whole courſe and carriage of our liues, for which wee ſtand in more neede of counſell and direction, and the rather becauſe there are few particular rules heereof in the Scriptures, of which chiefly the weaker ſort of Chriſtians are capeable, but onelyonly ſome generals, out of which they cannot ſo eaſily gather ſpeciall directions in this behalfe, vnleſſe they hauehave ſome guide to goe before them.