Special Rule 4: What Things Are Unlawful to Be Used in Recreation

4 What things are unlawful to be used in recreation.

Because recreation must be in indifferent things, neither simply commanded nor forbidden, therefore things sanctified to some especial and holy use, must not be made a recreation: as we must not pray, use the word, or such like, for recreation, but for necessary duty, in that manner which God has prescribed. Upon this it comes, that I think with diverse godly and learned men, that the use of a Lot for recreation, is unlawful, because a Lot is an especial mean, whereby God has ordained by himself from heaven, to end such controversies, as otherwise cannot conveniently be ended, as (Proverbs 16:23). The Lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposition of it, is of the Lord. So the nature of a Lot lies wholly in this, that although the thing be of us, yet the disposition is wholly of God, that is, he uses not here our means of cunning, practice, strength, steadiness of hand, or such like; but takes it wholly to himself. And this shows the nature of the Lot: so (Proverbs 18:18) the Holy Ghost shows the only lawful use of it: saying, The Lot removes contentions, and makes partitions among the mighty. So showing the only lawful use of it, is to end controversies, which otherwise cannot conveniently be ended, for each contender without the Lot, is too mighty to yield.

First, because as it is meant of an oath (Hebrews 6:16), when he says, for men verily swear by him that is greater than themselves, and an oath for confirmation, is among them an end of all strife, that he would by these words, not so much teach us that men use an oath to end controversies (which every one knows) but that God has dedicated, and made an oath holy and sure, only for that use of necessary deciding of doubts of importance among men: so in the like words in this place of the Proverbs, concerning a Lot, must be understood in the same sense, not so much to teach us, that a Lot ended such controversies among men (which all know) but that God has ordained it only for that use.

Secondly, we see that the Scripture makes a Lot, so the sentence of God, as in the most weighty matters of God and man, of life and death, it is the very oracle and declaration of God his will, wherein man must rest without any contradiction or motion to the contrary. So (Acts 1:24-26), (Numbers 26:55), (Leviticus 16:8) for matters of God. So (Joshua 14) for the matters of life: yes, the Gentiles themselves knew it to be the very oracle of God (Jonah 1:7). Now such oracles of God, must not be used for recreation: seeing they are his name, and must not be vainly used.

Thirdly, all Lots used in recreation, do either necessarily draw or tempt the very best, to horrible profaning of God's name, as to think or say, What luck is this! how crooked? Which in plain words (unless we will brutishly give God his glory to Fortune) is, What a God? What perverse and crooked providence of God is this? Neither is the case here as in other pastimes, where our own infirmity or want of skill may be blamed for all imperfection, because in a Lot nothing can be accused, but God's immediate direction. From all this I gather, that Dice, dealing of Cards, or such like, where the matter is laid on hazard (as they call it) or rather God his providence, without using any cunning of ours to dispose it, is upon the same reason of a lot unlawful. Neither is it any reason to say, We use it not now, to end controversies, or to so a weighty use, but only for an honest recreation: for the end for which we use it, is not of the nature of the lot, but only of the use or abuse of it. For when the Jews cast lots for our Savior Christ his garments, it was still in the nature of a Lot, though the good end of a Lot was laid aside. And seeing in all these, the whole disposition of it to try the matter (which is, what cast we shall have, or what cards we shall have towards a good game) is wholly in the Lord, and not in any cunning (unless we cog, cheat, and play false play, which thing the very Roisters condemn) it is manifest, that it remains in the nature of a lot, to whatever end we use it. It is manifest (I say) not by my collection, but by the express declaration of Solomon: yes by the common grant of all, who say in the lightest matters, Let us put it to lot, chance, hazard, etc.

Lastly, my hearty desire is in the Lord, that if these reasons cannot persuade my good brethren, to think this unlawful, (which in my judgment is evidently proved to be so) that they would (as I hope they will) be persuaded upon the reasons of the Holy Ghost following, to abstain from that which although it were lawful, yet they may exchange with many other recreations, as pleasant and of greater praise, as Chess, Music, etc. First, because we shall by it offend the church of God, which the Apostle expressly forbids to be done in an indifferent matter (1 Corinthians 10). For the church of God, for the most part, both long ago and in these days, has left it upon these reasons: and we cannot be ignorant, that many godly persons with grief will marvel to hear it used of us. For maintenance of this reason, the Apostle says in the 14th chapter to the Romans: If your Brother be grieved for your meat, you walk not according to Charity. Secondly, because we shall contrary to the like Commandment of the Apostle, offend those which are without (1 Corinthians 10), when they hearing we profess so much zeal in religion, good order, and other such like, they will say, Yet they use these vain pastimes, as well as others: yes when they may have better. Of which the Apostle says expressly in the 14th chapter to the Romans, Why should your good be blasphemed? that is, evil spoken of. Thirdly, because they shall confirm others, who cannot but greatly abuse it, when by using others in stead of it, they may draw them to a right and lawful use of recreation.