Gambling

“/;2 gaming there is a secret witchery. A man will play a little and only vejitiire a s7Jiall sum; but soon he is worined iii ojzd more and ?nore e7ita7igled; ajtd so men think it is no great matter to siit a little and yet that little leadeth 07i to 7norey The illustration is most forcible. Many persons have put down a piece of silver on the gaming-table when passing through the room, and from that moment their ruin has been sealed. They will be seen from day to day staking their hundreds, till the last fatal roll of the ball leaves them penniless. For the while gamblers live, and move, and have their being in the game: their eyes are quick, and their brains are sharp, to see each turn of the play: they are the willing, abject slaves of what is called amusement. Thus doth sin begin with littles, and glide into more serious faults; till the sinner is spellbound, and finds himself engrossed with folly, which he has no will to leave. Be it ours to give no place to the devil. Let him not have a spot whereon to set up his enchantment and work his diabolical arts. If we never venture a farthing upon Satan’s table, we shall never be made beggars by his devices. If he is not allowed to spin a spider’s web about us, he will never be able to hold us with the cords of iniquity. If we never wade into sin we shall never drown in it. Lord, keep us from the appearance of evil.