Nine Reasons Against Tobacco-Using.
By D. M. Canright
CHRISTIANS cannot use tobacco, 1. Because it is a filthy habit, as all will allow. God has emphatically condemned all uncleanness and filthiness. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks." Eph. v, 3, 4. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL FILTHINESS of the FLESH and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii, 1. 2. Because it is contrary to nature. God never gave any human being a natural taste for tobacco. On its first introduction into the system, nature rallies with all its powers to expel it; hence it produces vomiting, faintness, &c. Some plead, that God never "created anything in vain," and as he has created tobacco, it must be good to use it just as they do. Very well; God created the thistle, the mullein, and the toad-stool, too. Why don't they chew them? 3. Because it does not glorify God. As the tobacco-user defiles all around him by his filthy juice, or impregnates the air with its nauseous fumes, can he look up to Heaven and say, "I thus glorify God." No, he would not dare to do it. But the Holy Spirit has said, "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. x, 31. No tobacco monger can do this. 4. Because it simply gratifies a lust of the flesh. The one uniform reason that tobacconists give for using it, is, that they have become used to it and love it; it tastes good, and they cannot make up their minds to deny this appetite. But hear the word of the Lord again; "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to FULFILL THE LUSTS THEREOF." Rom. xiii, 14. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Gal. v, 16, 24. See also Eph. ii, 3; James iv, 3. 5. Because it is idolatry. That we may make a god of the appetite, is clear from Paul's language, Phil. iii, 19. Of those who are governed by their appetite, he says, "Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things." What appetite is more enslaving than that unnatural one for tobacco? None. To gratify this, a man will deny himself of his necessary food and raiment, will let his wife and children suffer want and privation, and will neglect his most pressing business at any time. I have seen all this myself. If a man was out of tobacco three days, and could go at evening to the house of God to worship the Lord, or five miles to the village and get his tobacco, at which place would he be found? At the latter every one knows. Then which god does he love best? the Lord, or his tobacco? "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," reads the first commandment. 6. Because it is a poison which destroys the health and life of those who use it. "Tobacco is one of the most deadly narcotics found upon the list of poisons." N. B. Coles, M. D. Abundance of testimony might be given on this point, but it is not necessary here. 7. Because it defiles the garments, flesh, blood, and brains, of the body, which is God's temple. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. iii, 16, 17. Tobacco penetrates and defiles every fiber in the whole system. Let tobacco-users beware. 8. Because it destroys the graces of the mind. The moment a tobacco-user is deprived of his accustomed tobacco, he becomes irritable, peevish, cross, and snappish to all around him. This all know to be true. This is the effect of tobacco. All this is directly opposed to the work of the Spirit. Paul says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance." Gal. v, 22, 23. 9. Because it is worse than squandering the means which God has committed to our care over which we are only stewards. The Scriptures very plainly declare that all we possess is only committed to our care by God, and that we are accountable to him for the use we make of it. See the parable of the talents, Matt. xxv, 14–30. "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase." Prov. iii, 9. 9. As the poor man hands out from one to five dollars for his filthy weed, and knows at the same time that his family needs that money, or that he owes debts that he ought to pay with it, can he say that he is honoring God by using his money to gratify his filthy, unnatural, health-destroying appetite? He must be far gone in depravity if he does think so. Thousands of men, whose families are in needy circumstances, whose children are not being educated as they ought to be, "because father is not able to send them to school," and who are giving little or nothing for the cause of Christ, are nevertheless paying from ten to forty dollars per year for tobacco! What a fearful account such will have to settle with their Maker! To such he says, "Wherefore do ye spend money for that WHICH IS NOT BREAD? and your labor for that which satisfieth not! hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Isa. lv, 2. Many often say to us, "I use tobacco, and intend to, till you show me by the Bible that it is wrong, then I will give it up." Of course we cannot read from the Bible in so many words, "Thou shalt not use tobacco." It was not known in those times. But we do find many of its leading attributes and effects, when used, directly condemned by the Bible. Hence it is just as plainly condemned by the Scriptures as though it had said, "Thou shalt not use tobacco."
D. M. CANRIGHT.