CONFESSION OF A SMOKING MINISTER.
I HAVE left off smoking. I could give you in my own experience in this habit, items that I think must be a little troublesome to the conscience of any smoking minister. I indulged in it till I was thoroughly convinced that it was not only opposed to the refined societies of life, but that it was detrimental to health, befogging to the intellect, and stupefying to the sensibilities. I will, however, trouble you with a few details of its moral bearings. They will do to use against the habit, just as well as they would were they your own personal experience. Take this text of the apostle: "If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth." A very practical text: but I was a smoker, and that habit was opposed to the best Christian sense of my brethren, and even by many who were not Christians, was regarded as a vice. I must waive that subject, lest my people say, "Physician, heal thyself." I wanted to preach on the duty of self-denial, a duty that needs to be urged. But the idea of a smoker's preaching such a doctrine was simply ridiculous. That must be delayed then. The subject of temperance came up. I felt called to preach upon it. But I could find no sound premises from which to reason, that were not destructive to my peace as a smoking Christian, I wished to preach a sermon on benevolence, but my cigar bill faced me. I could not well preach in the face of that. I wished to visit my people; but my clothes and my breath indicated that I had been smoking. I had a little rather they would not know it; because it might be offensive to them. I must stay at home. I needed two or three hours of bodily exercise; but I sat down and smoked after each meal, and an hour and a half or two hours of the day were gone. A good55smoke requires an hour. I could not spare time for exercise, and I soon got so that vigorous exercise was irksome; in fine, I grew lazy. But I forbear. I do not know how others get along with these daily experiences, but I could not endure them longer, and I am no longer a smoker. I relate these experiences to you, because I know you have a disposition to trouble people's consciences about this sin so far as you can. But a sinner knows best how a sinner feels, and the above items may help you. Besides, I owe you this confession, as an approval of your efforts and arguments for reform in this matter.—Sel.