The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-01-21
For TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Covstousness.

= alN Vi 4o5a MAst US th- result. Anu d.
though lotteries, racing card playing, bill
lizards, shooting mstches, &C., sre not
c-4 IL Csc Bible, fhey sre ST euri n-c3
ia .ooss5ousnoss.
Gam5EHg is - much greater sin than it
Is frequently supposed to be. When one
man seals anotber's property, he gets the
whole for nothing, and there the matter
ends, provided he escapes detection. In
cheating be does the same in part, and does
It by deceiying. In the latter case, there
fore, deception is to be added to the sin
Of covctousDess. Ia gambling each If the
parties hopes the chances 70 be so much in
his favor, that he will get all that is risked
by another, wholly without cost. To this
case, therefore, to the sin of covetousness
there is to be added the loss Of time, 10
jury to morals, and frequently to health
also.
Now lay it down as iDcOutrovertible,
that where one man gets the property of
another, uuless as q loan, or : gift, it ought
to be in such a way that both NAY be ben
Gifted by the transaction. The only object
of trade is something IN exchange for what
we give, that suits rs better.
It is no apology for gamblers to say, an
other is not bound to bot; and that when
he does, he knows there are chances against
him. All this is admitted bat at the same
time 7 contend that both parties are guilty
of the sin cf cogetousuess. No man in his
senses would bet wish the prospect OF GER
tain loss, unless he was regardless Of that
loss. When, therefore, he does lose, al
though it goes, in one sense, with his con
sent, he greatly regrets it. Itis distress
ing fact that here hould be as much bet
ting as there often is, on the issues Of our
political elections, and sometimes too by
the professed followers Of Christ. "Ye are
the light of the world" Now, if "tbe light
of toe world" may risk money On an cleo
ton, why may not the world, under the
guidance of the light of the world, risk
money on a race, lottery, q game Of cerdsf
But gambling is criminal.
i. Because IN some Of its forms il is In
furious 20 health.
When persons engage in some game. for
amusement merely, as tkey feel no Other
interest in the pome than q desire to ex-
cell, they are rot likely to 90 much beyond
the bounds Of reason; but when they stake
money, they at on become so interested
in the prospect of gain that they viii spend
whole night at the gaming table. In the
meantime, however, exhausted nature calls
for something to prop or arouse it and this
leads directly to strong, drink, and the tVO
combined bring on Premsturely q broken
constitution, and hurry to the grave.
,. Because it leads to 3 neglect Of bust
ness.
The desire Of gain is natural. This, to
Young minds in general, is so strong, that
no view Of lie Is more dreaded than the
prospect Of g constant struggle, and the
slow gains Of honest acquisition. Nov it
is this that renders youth so liable to be
allured by other golden dreams, and so
ready prey 20 the gGmbler. When he,
who BIZ hard work Gao, in ordinary tiwes,
gain bat fifty cents g day, or % most but
ooe or two dollars, sees another gain, as 9
single game oG cards, ten shines rs much,
he is strongly tempted to try his hand and
this, leads him, elias too often, not only TO
neglect his business, but to convert night
into day, end day into night: so that while
his family IS at work he is in bed /; and
while they are in bed, he is at the gaming
table. The consequence is, he soon ceases
to feel, or nct Ike father, and his bust
ness bears the too eyidcD. marks Of being
managed by others.
Nov this shorter road to wealth once
tried, and al the tedious, and iabori0ns
processes of honest and necessary ca,hDgs,
become unexpectedly irksome And al
though the man may Do sensible Of the
evil, and resolve on amendment. with rare
exception be returns to his old habits, Ike
''the dog to his yomit, or the SOW thNt was
washed to her BallOsiUg IN The mire. =
Some years ego wehad in the town Of H,
after az advertisement of one or Two weeks;
a lecture on card playing and drinking, in
which gamblers and liquor sellers we're de-
nouuced with severity. 8 poor fellow, who
while drinking had been fseecd Of $1,000
was on the stool Of repentance, and sought
relief by public confession, with promise
Of amendment. Thus far ali seemed we'll,
DO( 2lG5 ! ID not WuGA over q year 10 was
back ct HE cd habits, sowing broad cast
the honest earnings of an industrious father.
8. Because it leads to prostratiOn OF
morals.
This has already been somewhat antici-
pated, but requires some farther remarks.
The great object of the gambler Is to get,
without cost that which IS another's; and
hence, althought he may have set out to
play fairly, dishonest thoughts soon mingle
with his motives. And having once closed
his eyes on the unvorthiness Of the object,
he begins to study how he may deceive. He
is now ready to bear down his conscience Ill
almost shy direction. Hence, gamblers gen
orally viii swear, and drink, and lie, and
cheat, until they become so hardened that
they would play on a fathers coffin, or a
mothers sepulchre." I have been informed
by on eye witness, that during Q late bat
tie where the slaughter was terrific, some
in the rear of those 10 action were engaged
in gambling.
| know t5at gamblers arc ever-ready to
dspv tho charoa Cf cheating INT vho ever