DEAR SIR:—1. I have read your letter with attention, and much approve of the spirit with which it is wrote. You speak in love. I desire to do so too; and then no harm can be done on either side. You appear to be wedded to your own opinion, but open to farther conviction. I would willingly be of the same temper; not obstinately attached to either side of the question. I am clearly satisfied of the necessity of this; a willingness to see what as yet I see not. For I know an unwillingness to be convinced would utterly blind either you or me; and that if we are resolved to retain our present opinion, reason and argument signify nothing.
2. I shall not therefore think it is time or pains misemployed, to give the whole cause a second hearing; to recite the occasion of every step I have taken, and the motives inducing me so to do; and then to consider whatsoever either you or others have urged on the contrary side of the question.
3. Twenty-nine years since, when I had spent a few months at Oxford, having, as I apprehended, an exceedingly good constitution, and being otherwise in health, I was a little surprised at some symptoms of a paralytic disorder. I could not imagine what should occasion the shaking of my hand; till I observed that it was always worst after breakfast; and that if I intermitted drinking tea for two or three days, it did not shake at all. Upon inquiry, I found tea had the same effect upon others also of my acquaintance, and therefore saw that this was one of its natural effects, (as several physicians have often remarked,) especially when it is largely and frequently drank; and most of all on persons of weak nerves. Upon this I lessened the quantity, drank it weaker, and added more milk and sugar. But still for above six and twenty years I was more or less subject to the same disorder.
4. July was two years, I began to observe that abundance of the people in London, with whom I conversed, labored under the same, and many other paralytic disorders, and that in a much higher degree; insomuch that some of their nerves were quite unstrung; and they could not go through their daily labor. I inquired, "Are you not a hard drinker?" and was answered by one and another and another, "No, indeed, sir, not I; I drink scarce anything but a little tea morning and night." I immediately remembered my own case; and, after weighing the matter thoroughly, easily gathered from many concurring circumstances, that it was the same case with them.
5. I considered, "What an advantage would it be to these poor enfeebled people, if they would leave off what so manifestly impairs their health, and thereby hurts their business also! Is there nothing equally cheap which they could use? Yes, surely; and cheaper too. If they used English herbs in its stead, (which would cost either nothing or what is next to nothing,) with the same bread, butter, and milk, they would save just the price of the tea. And hereby they might not only lessen their pain but in some degree their poverty too; for they would be able to work, as well as to save, considerably more than they can do now. And by this means, if they are in debt, they might be more just, paying away what they either earned or saved. If they are not in debt they might be more merciful, giving it away to them that want."
6. I considered farther: "What an advantage might this be, particularly in such a body of men as those who are united together in these societies, who are both so numerous and so poor! How much might be saved in so numerous a body, even in this single article of expense! And how greatly is all that can possibly be saved, in every article, wanted daily by those who have not even food convenient for them!"
7. I soon perceived that this latter consideration was of a more general nature than the former; and that it affected many of those whom the other did not so immediately concern; seeing it was as needful for all to save needless expenses, as for some to regain the health they had impaired; especially, considered as members of a society the wants of which they could not be unapprised of. They knew, of those to whom they were so peculiarly united, some had not food to sustain nature; some were destitute of even necessary clothing; some were without where to lay their head. They knew, or might know, that the little contributions made weekly did in no wise suffice to remove these wants, being barely sufficient to relieve the sick; and even that in so scanty a manner, that I know not if some of them have not, with their allowance, pined away, and at length died of want. If you and I have not saved all we could to relieve these, how shall we face them at the throne of God?
8. I reflected: "If one only would save all that he could in this single instance, he might surely feed or clothe one of his brethren, and perhaps save one life. What then might be done, if ten thousand, or one thousand, or only five hundred would do it? yea, if half that number should say, 'I will compute this day what I have expended in tea, weekly or yearly. I will immediately enter on cheaper food; and whatever is saved hereby I will put into the poor-box weekly, to feed the hungry, and to clothe the naked.' I am mistaken, if any among us need want either food or raiment from that hour."
9. I thought farther: "It is said, nay, many tell me to my face, I can persuade this people to anything. I will make a fair trial. If I cannot persuade them there may be some good effect. All who do not wilfully shut their eyes will see that I have no such influence as they supposed. If I can persuade any number who are now weak or sick will be restored to health and strength. Many will pay those debts, which others, perhaps equally poor, can but ill afford to lose. They will be less straightened in their own families. Many, by helping their neighbor, will lay up for themselves treasures in Heaven."
10. Immediately it struck into my mind: "But example must go before precept; therefore I must not plead exemption for myself, from a daily practice of twenty-seven years. I must begin." I did so. I left it off in August, 1746. And I have now had sufficient time to try the effects, which have fully answered my expectation. My paralytic complaints are all gone; my hand is steady as it was at fifteen; although I must expect that or other weaknesses soon, as I decline into the vale of years. And so considerable a difference do I find in my expense, that I can make it appear, from the accounts now in being, in only those four families at London, Bristol, Kingswood, and Newcastle, I save upwards of fifty pounds a year.
11. The first to whom I explained these things at large, and whom I advised to set the same example to their brethren, were a few of those who rejoice to assist my brother and me, as our sons in the gospel. A week after I proposed it to about forty of those whom I believed to be strong in faith; and the next morning to about sixty more, entreating them all to speak their minds freely. They did so; and, in the end, saw the good which ensue; yielded to the force of Scripture and reason; and resolved, all but two or three, by the grace of God to make the trial without delay.
12. In a short time I proposed it, but with all the tenderness I could, first, to the body of those who are supposed to have living faith, and after staying a few days, (that I might judge the better how to speak,) to the whole society. It soon appeared (as I doubted not it would) how far these were from calling me Rabbi, from implicitly submitting to my judgment, or implicitly following my example. Objections rose in abundance from all sides. These I now proceed to consider; whether they are advanced by you or by others; and whether pointed at the premises or directly at the conclusion.
13. I. Some objected: "Tea is not unwholesome at all; not in any kind prejudicial to health."
To these I reply: First, you should not be so sure of this. Even the casual circumstance related in Dr. Short's history of it, might incline you to doubt; namely that "while the Chinese dry the leaves and turn it with their hands upon the tin plates, the moisture of them is so extremely corrosive that it eats into the flesh, if not wiped off immediately." It is not probable, then, that what remains in the leaves is quite friendly to the human body.
Secondly, Many eminent physicians have declared their judgment, that it is prejudicial in several respects; that it gives rise to numberless disorders, particularly of the nervous kind; and that, if frequently used by those of weak nerves it is no other than a slow poison.
Thirdly, If all physicians were silent in the case, yet plain fact is against you. And this speaks loud enough. It was prejudicial to my health; it is so to many at this day.
14. "But it is not so to me," says the objector: "Why then should I leave it off."
I answer, First, To give an example to those to whom it is undeniably prejudicial.
Secondly, That you may have the more wherewith to give bread to the hungry, and raiment to the naked.
15. "But I cannot leave it off; for it helps my health. Nothing else will agree with me."
I answer, First, Will nothing else agree with you? I know not how to believe that. I suppose your body is much of the same kind with that of your great grandmother. And do you think nothing else agreed with her, or with any of her progenitors? What! poor, puling, sickly things must all the English have been, till within these hundred years! But you know they were not so. Other things agreed with them; and why not with you?
Secondly, If, in fact nothing else will, if tea has already weakened your stomach, and impaired your digestion to such a degree, it has hurt you more than you are aware. It has prejudiced your health extremely. You have need to abhor it as deadly poison, and to renounce it from this very hour.
So says a drinker of drams: "Nothing else will agree with me. Nothing else will raise my spirits. I can digest nothing without them." Indeed! Is it so? Then touch no more if you love your life.
Thirdly, Suppose nothing else agrees with you at first; yet in a while many things will. When I first left off tea I was half asleep all day long; my head ached from morning to night. I could not remember a question asked, even till I could return an answer; but in a week's time all these inconveniences were gone, and have never returned since.
Fourthly, I have not found one single exception yet; not one person in all England, with whom, after sufficient trial made, nothing else would agree.
It is therefore well worth while for you to try again, if you have any true regard for your own health, or any compassion for those who are perishing all around you for want of the common necessaries of life.
16. If you are sincere in this plea, if you do not talk of your health, while the real objections is your inclination, make a fair trial thus: (1.) Take half a pint of milk every morning, with a little bread, not boiled, but warmed only; a man in tolerable health might double the quantity. (2.) If this is too heavy, add as much water, and boil it together, with a spoonful of oat meal. (3.) If this agrees not, try half a pint, or a little more of water gruel, neither thick nor thin; not sweetened, for that may be apt to make him sick, but with a very little butter, salt, and bread. (4.) If this disagrees, try sage, green balm, mint or pennyroyal tea, infusing just so much of the herb as just to change the color of the water. (5.) Try two or three of these mixed, in various proportions. (6.) Try ten or twelve other English herbs. (7.) Try foltron, a mixture of herbs to be had at many grocers, far healthier as well as cheaper, than tea. (8.) Try cocoa. If after having tried each of these for a week or ten days you find none of them will agree with your constitution, then use (weak green) tea again; but at the same time know that your having used it so long has brought you near the chambers of death.
17. II. "I do not know," says another, "but teas may hurt me; but there is nothing saved by leaving off; for I am sure other things cost full as much." I pray, what other things! Sack and sugar cost more; and so do ragouts, or pheasants, or ortolans. But what is this to the point? We do not say, All things are cheaper; but any of the things above mentioned are, at least if prudently managed. Therefore, if you really desire to save what you can, you will drink tea no more.
18. "Well, I do not design to buy any more myself; but where others drink it there is nothing saved by my abstaining." I answer, First, Yes something is saved, though but little; especially if you tell them before, "I shall not drink tea." And many a little, you know, put together, will make a great sum.
Secondly, If the whole saved were ever so little, if it were but two mites, when you save this for God and your brethren's sake, it is much.
Thirdly, Your example in saving a little now, may occasion the saving of more by and by.
Fourthly, It is not a little advantage which you may reap, even now, to your own soul; by habituating yourself not to be ashamed of being singular in a good thing; by taking up your cross, and denying your self even in so small an instance, and by accustoming yourself to act on rational grounds whether in a little matter or a great.—John Wesley. (To be continued.)