Temperance by John O. Corliss

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1885

Temperance.

By John O. Corliss

Spurgeon on Smoking.

MR. SPURGEON is a smoker. More than that, he says he is not ashamed of the practice, and therefore intends to keep it up. We have known other men of influence to follow pernicious practices, the influence of which was degrading, but their persistence was evidently begotten of sheer selfishness, as in the present case. Everybody understands that a minister ought to be an ensample to his flock. This being true, that which is not wrong for Mr. Spurgeon is not wrong for those of his congregation, or any others,—men, women, or children. Whatever is not morally wrong, is right; but who ever thinks of praising a child for his righteousness (right doing) because of his learning to smoke? On the other hand, what more pitiable sight is presented than boys of seven or eight years of age moving along the street under a cloud of cigarette smoke. Compare the appearance and conduct of this class of boys with those who are not addicted to the vile habit, and every candid person must freely admit a preference in favor of the latter.

But Mr. Spurgeon has demonstrated (to his own satisfaction at least) that he is justified in his indulgence of the narcotic. "Show me," said he, in a recent Tabernacle discourse, "in the Bible the command, 'Thou shalt not smoke,' and I am ready to keep it. I find ten commandments, and it's as much as I can do to keep them." Probably. But what profound logic! With all the boasted spirituality of the Christian dispensation, Mr. Spurgeon sees nothing beyond the express letter of the law. How convenient to do so when we wish to uphold some pernicious habit not particularly specified in that code of morals.

By the same method of reasoning one may justify himself in almost any evil practice. "Show me," the gambler may say, "the command, 'Thou shalt not play at cards,' or the prohibition, 'Thou shalt not bet on a horse-race,' and I will desist from these practices." "Point out to me," says the professional "rough," "the text of Scripture that distinctly says I may not attend dog-fights and boxing-matches, and I will attend them no more. But until you do this, I protest against such pastimes being denounced by you as unchristian. I am not ashamed of what I do in such matters, therefore I mean to do so still more."

Would Mr. Spurgeon accept such trifling talk as sufficient to justify a member of his congregation in indulging in degrading sports? No, indeed. Like every other well informed minister, he would soon point out from the Bible a principle that underlies all morality—even the moral law itself—and which would quickly condemn all the practices referred to, with others of the same class. And yet he himself will not cease smoking, no matter what its influence may be upon others, without a direct command prohibiting it.

But while recognizing the binding force of the ten commandments, Mr. Spurgeon sees no command prohibiting smoking. How strange. And yet, we doubt not, if occasion required, the very first command in the decalogue would be utilized by this distinguished London preacher to inveigh against sins not specified in the Bible, yet plainly covered by the principle underlying that commandment. It would be folly to assume that he has forgotten the prophecy (Isa. 42:21) which predicted that Christ would magnify the law and make it honorable. He well knows that our Saviour, in his interpretation of the commandments, declared a lustful look toward a woman to be a violation of the seventh commandment; also that he condemned hatred by the commandment which says, "Thou shalt not kill."

Now it may be possible that the first commandment, which condemns, by universal consent, idolatry of all kinds and grades, may also condemn the practice of tobacco using in its various forms. If Mr. Spurgeon, or any other votary of this seductive habit, entertains a doubt on this point, and wishes to enter a demurrer, let him settle the matter by attempting to give up the narcotizing weed, and he will soon be convinced that he has become a devotee to a habit that has gained almost absolute control of the moral will, and rendered its possessor virtually powerless.

Tobacco in any form is not food, and therefore does not afford nourishment to the system. At best it is but a mischievous luxury, the result of yielding to the demands of a depraved appetite, and in consequence should be condemned as roundly as the use of intoxicating drink. While it may be true that all tobacco users are not liquor drinkers, it would be hard to find a drunkard who is not a tobacco user. In other words, so far as being slave to a habit is concerned, the tobacco user has the drunkard for traveling companion. And why should he not? Tobacco using is but a stepping-stone to the more degrading vice of drunkenness, and this is the example that Mr. Spurgeon is deliberately keeping before the world, by his persistency in the indulgence of a foolish and hurtful habit.

But notwithstanding his firmness in resisting a wholesome reform in his own case, Mr. Spurgeon must have read those texts which require the Christian to glorify God in his body as well as his spirit (1 Cor. 6:20), and to not live in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God. 1 Pet. 4:2. He surely would not ignore these scriptures. Do they not, when taken in connection with their contexts, forbid us to do injury to our bodies? "What, know ye not," says the great apostle, "that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Cor. 6:19. How can the pure and holy Spirit of the Lord dwell in a temple defiled with the polluting scent of tobacco? "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." 1 Cor. 3:17.

In view of the last statement made by the apostle, his exhortation in 2 Cor. 7:1 is to the point: "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." But what application will smoking ministers make of such texts? And if they persist in their indulgence, to the injury of their systems, in the face of these scriptures, and many others that might be adduced, how can they expect their hearers to reform their lives, and become God-fearing men and women? J. O. CORLISS.