208 LIVES OF TETE PURITANS. that how, backward he had ever been to publish any thing from the press, they knew best who had often pressed him thereto, but had never till that time prevailed. " A twofold necessity," says he, " is now imposed upon me of doing somewhat in this kind, partly by the importunity of divers christian friends, religious and judicious, who having either heard, being partakers of my public ministry, or heard of by' the report of others, or upon request seen some part of this weak work, have not ceased to solicit the further publishing of it ; as also partly, and more especially, by the iniquity of some others ; who, being of a contrary judgment on some particulars therein disputed, have been more forward than was fit, by unchristian slanders, and uncharitable censures, to tax and traduce both me and it." He then remarks, that, if any should surmise that these kind of writings might occa- sion too much liberty, a thing not necessary in that licentious age; he answers briefly, " First, that it is unequal, that, for the looseness of some, the consciences of those that be godly should be entangled and ensnared ; and, secondly, that who- soever shall take no more liberty than is here given shall be sure to keep within the bounds of piety and sobriety, of equity and of charity, than which I know not what can be more required. For no sinister ends, I protest before God's face, and in his fear, undertook I this task ; neither have I averred or defended any thing therein but what I am verily persuaded to be agreeable to God's word." The first chapter describes what a lot is, and treats' of lottery in general ; the second, of chance or casualty, and of casual events ; the third; of the several sorts or kinds of lots ; the fourth, of ordinary lots ; the fifth, of the lawfulness of such lots, with cautions to be observed in the use of them ; the sixth, of ordinary lots lusorious, and of the lawfulness of them ; the seventh contains an answer to the principal objec- tions against lusorious lots ; the eighth, an answer to the lesser arguments used against them ; the ninth, of cautions to be observed in the use of them ; the tenth, of extraor- dinary or divinitary lots; the eleventh, of the unlawfulness of such lots ; the twelfth contains an admonition to avoid them, with an answer to some arguments producedin the defence of them, and the conclusion of the whole. The second edition of this treatise, revised, corrected, and enlarged by the author, was published in 1627. The publication of the first edition of this work drew Mr. Gataker into a public controversy, which continuedmany years. A very warm writer, who had been misled by coin-
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