The lot is cast into the lap
Of a man's garment, or into his bosom, or into a hat, cap, urn,
or whatsoever he has in his lap, and from whence it is taken out;
which used to be done in choosing officers, civil or
ecclesiastical; in dividing inheritances, and determining
doubtful cases; and making up differences, and putting an end to
strife and contentions, which otherwise could not be done: and
this ought not to be used in trivial cases, or to gratify
curiosity, or for the sake of gain, or rashly and
superstitiously; but seriously and religiously, with prayer, and
in faith, and with a view to the divine direction, and submission
to it; for a lot has the nature of an oath, and is an appeal to
the omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent Being; but the
whole disposing thereof [is] of the Lord;
or "the judgment" F21 of it; the judgment that is to be
made by it concerning persons or things; it being so directed and
ordered by him as to fall upon the person it should; or to make
known the thing in doubt and debate according to his will, in
which all parties concerned should acquiesce. This is to be
ascribed, not to blind chance and fortune, to the influence of
the stars, or to any invisible created being, angel or devil, but
to the Lord only; there is no such thing as chance, or events by
chance; those events which seem most fortuitous or contingent are
all disposed, ordered, and governed, by the sovereign will of
God.