An Appeal to the 30,000 Clergymen in the United States.
[As the subject of the use of Tobacco is engaging the attention of many of our brethren, in different places, the following which we copy from the Advent Herald will be read with interest. Although it makes the soul something distinct from the body and intellect, and speaks of its effects on that undefinable principle—a distinction which we could not endorse—the article is nevertheless mainly to the point.]
THE common use of Tobacco, like Alcohol, is a violation of life, and assails body, intellect and soul. What right has a man to whip himself into the use of a nauseous, noxious poison, which, in time, will blunt the acumen of all his five senses, disturb his appetite, diminish nutrition, muscle, strength, and all his capacities to serve God? Is it no sin to rob God? What right has a man to use a drug which disturbs the healthful action of his mind, disposes it to be irritable at one time and sottish at another, and, in cases sadly numerous, smites it with forgetfulness, idiocy, or outright insanity? Is it no sin to destroy intellect?
What right has a man to enslave his soul? This drug, by narcotizing, debilitating, and sensualizing the soul, binds it in chains, and makes it an absolute slave. I speak with reverence, if the eye of God sees a slave on earth, in the way of eminence, he is probably made such by the potency of this drug. Is it no sin to enslave the soul?
Man's organic structure my brethren, is perfect; for God is its Author. God's will is as manifest in this organism as in the ten commandments. Whoever injures this "divine workmanship," by the use of a deadly thing, plants his will in conflict with God's will. What is this but man striving with his Maker? What is this but rebellion? What is rebellion against God but sin? In your pulpits, many of you ring the changes on the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the world over and elsewhere. But sin is no undefinable phantom. Sin is the transgression of law, written by the finger of God on the whole organism of a man, as well as in the Bible; a transgression which usually carries conviction to the soul, unless stupified by abuse. The common use of tobacco is in all cases a violation of physical law. The victim may or may not have come to a knowledge of63this violation; if he has not, with him it is no sin or merely a sin of ignorance. But, the moment he becomes conscious of this violation, the violation is no longer simply physical, but moral; the act becomes a sinning act, a sin, and the actor a sinner. Millions sensualized by this drug are mournfully defective in moral discrimination, but this is not true of all its devotees.
I knew one who said, "Sir, I can hear no more, for all you say on this drug is true, and cuts me to pieces. I have been a slave to it twenty years, and shall die a slave; but, if my son uses it, I will disinherit him!" Here was consciousness of slavery and sin.
I knew an excellent deacon, who was an inveterate "chewer," who, on reading the passage which bids us glorify God, whether we eat or drink, said to his wife, "I cannot glorify God in the use of this poison." He dropped it, once for all, and became a holier and a happier man. Here was the consciousness and renunciation of sin. A ceasing to do evil in one form.
I can name a clergyman who was much enslaved to his snuff; he sometimes reproved a neighbor who was a drunkard. At length the drunkard said to him, "If you will give up your snuff, I will give up my rum." The bargain was made. But within forty-eight hours the clergyman was in perfect anguish for his snuff. He set a spy over the drunkard to watch for his downfall. When told that the fatal cup had passed his lips, he flew to his snuff-box with the fury of a maniac, made himself idiotic, and died a fool! Tell us which was the greater drunkard? Or, as sin is the point in debate, which was the greater sinner?
The time would fail me to tell of men, Christian men, and Christian ministers, who have renounced this sin as they renounce other sins, and who, with rejuvenated health and jubilant hearts, bless God for their escape from these "bonds of iniquity."
Yours fraternally,
GEORGE TRASK.
Fitchburg, Mass., 1855.