THE TOBACCO-USING PREACHER.
A COUNTRY minister, being invited to preach the weekly lecture to a congregation in the City of New York, after dismissing the people, took out his tobacco and began to chew the filthy weed. A member of the church remonstrated with him on the sinfulness of the practise and stated that he could not expect that impenitent sinners under his instructions, would give up their sins while he indulged in a sin himself. “I know it is wrong,” said the minister. “I have often resolved to give up the habit, but I have not resolved enough to persevere.” “Why,” said the other, “that is the very excuse impenitent sinners give for not forsaking their sins.” “Well, I’ll think it over as I go home,” observed the minister, “and perhaps I will give it up.” “That will not do,” replied the church member, “for we never allow this, if we can help it; we expect the impenitent to repent on the spot; we never allow them to go home and repent, nor do we pray that they may repent when they reach home.” “I see,” said the minister, “I can not get away so therefore I will try to give up chewing.” “But,” remarked the other, “that will not do either. We never urge sinners to try to give up their sins—do you?” “Why, no; I think it wrong to intimate that they can not do it at once.” “Will you act then as you preach, or let your conduct give the lie to your preaching?” “With the help of God,” said the minister, “I will leave off the practise from this moment.” A member of the church where this conversation took place, who was in the practise of chewing tobacco, was so impressed with what had taken place, that he solemnly promised to abjure the filthy habit without delay.—Selected.