Suppose you would convince a gamester that “gaming is not a lawful calling, or business of life, to maintain oneself by it,” and you make use of this argument, namely, “That which doth not admit us to ask the blessing of God, that we may get gain by it, cannot be lawful employment; but we cannot ask the blessing of God on gaming, therefore,” &c. The minor is proved thus: “We cannot pray that our neighbor may lose; this is contrary to the rule of seeking our neighbor’s welfare, and loving him as ourselves; this is wishing mischief to our neighbor. But in gaming, we can gain but just so much as our neighbor loses; therefore in gaming we cannot pray for the blessing of God that we may gain by it.”
Perhaps the gamester shrugs and winces, turns and twists the argument every way, but he cannot fairly answer it; yet he will patch up an answer to satisfy himself, and will never yield to the conviction, because he feels so much of the seat influence of gaming, either towards the gratification of his avarice, or the support of his expenses. Thus he is under a strong prejudice in favor of it, and is not easily convinced.
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