Untitled article by A. A.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · July 23, 1867

TOBACCO.

By A. A.

Yes, dear brethren, it is the old disagreeable subject again. It is not very agreeable to our sensitive hearts to hear our failings, much less to tell others their faults, but the love of your souls and the love of Christ constraineth us. It is not argument we bring this time, the subject needs none. The argument is well understood, but charity compels us to give a little more time, exercise a little more patience in assisting and encouraging the weak. We know this is a peculiar trial—perhaps the hardest some of you will ever have to bear; and in your dire extremity, could tender sympathy avail, we would bear the whole.

Persons who have never used tobacco can form no estimate of the powerful hold it has upon its votaries; nor can they realize the firmness of will and determination of purpose, the amount of sustaining grace and co-operative help required to put it away. Neither can they estimate the amount of physical suffering and depression a thoroughly nervous, susceptible temperament must endure under the ordeal. Through this accursed weed what has not the arch-deceiver wrought!

But is there no healing power? no balm in Gilead? There is: “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” That brother who says he has tried faithfully to put away his tobacco expecting the Lord would help him, but failed, that brother who hates and detests it, and would give almost any sum of money that release him, means perhaps to try again when his business perplexities are over. O my brother, have you an idea your business perplexities will ever be over? No! you must begin by battling in the name of the Lord. You are waiting for victory through peace with the enemy, which you will never find, instead of perfect dependence on God. When you asked for help did you throw yourself entirely into his hands, saying, “though thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee?” Did you go to him nothing wavering? Did you so humble your soul and plead in such agony of spirit as to sweat drops of blood, or even water? Until you do these things there is no promise, no hope for you. Go back and enter with your Saviour the garden of Gethsemane; bow beside him to the earth; mingle your tears and groans with his; plead with the Father in the agony you witness there; go with him through the scoffs and insults of the judgment hall; follow him fainting beneath the heavy cross; witness the piercing of the tender hands; the torn temples and mangled body; the suffering and yielding up of the blessed life of your Lord and Saviour. Do this and you will realize the efficacy of his blood and the degree of your sacrifice.

Every unclean thing must soon be put without, and I know the honest, earnest ones will be found with the little flock. But some will be removed from their steadfastness and carried away as dry leaves before the tempest. They were not of us; but as the chaff that mingles with the choicest wheat they were with us, and like it will be removed away. “They go out from us that it may be made manifest that they were not of us.” Had they been told at the beginning their profession and zeal would terminate thus, their reply undoubtedly would have been like that of Hazael to the man of God, “What, is thy servant a dog that he should do this thing?” A. A.