p. 205 | TO THE GLORY OF GOD by Isaac Sanborn

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 14, 1861

TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

By Isaac Sanborn

“WHETHER therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. x, 31.

The above text is worthy of daily application by all those who profess to be the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wish to ask those who are in the habit of using tobacco how they apply the text to that part of their doing. I am sorry to have it to say that as I travel in Wisconsin I find those who are in the habit of chewing or using tobacco, and still are professing to follow Jesus as their pattern. The result is they are lukewarm; for how can a person glorify God in doing that which is contrary to the laws of nature, and the law of God. Tobacco being an insidious poison, how can those who are chewing it say they are doing the will of God, and following Jesus, when they must know that neither Jesus nor apostles ever set them such an example.

But Paul says, “Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh.” 2 Cor. vii, 1. Is tobacco unclean? Hear Simon Paubli, physician to the king of Denmark. He says: “The merchants frequently lay it in bog houses, so, that becoming impregnated with the volatile salt of the excrements, it may be rendered briskier, stronger, and more fluid.” “A dealer in this article once acknowledged to me,” says Dr. Clarke, “that he sprinkled his rolls and leaf frequently with stale urine to keep them moist.”

Do tobacco chewers know this, and yet continue in its use? It is not only filthy by nature, and rendered more so by art, but it is equally so in its effects. Says Dr. Clarke, “The abominable customs of snuff-taking and chewing have made their way into many congregations, and are likely to be productive of immense evil. Churches and chapels are most scandalously abused by the tobacco chewers who frequent them.” “Should all other arguments fail to produce a reformation in the conduct of tobacco consumers,” continues Dr. C., “there is one which is addressed to good breeding and benevolence which for the sake of politeness and humanity should prevail. Consider how disagreeable your custom is to those who do not follow it.”

King James finishes his counterblast to tobacco as follows: “A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”

“What reception may we suppose would the apostles have met with,” says Dr. Rush, “had they carried into the cities and houses to which they were sent snuff boxes, pipes, cigars and bundles of cut or rolls of hog or pigtail tobacco. Such a costly and offensive apparatus for gratifying their appetites would have furnished solid objections to their persons and doctrines, and would have been a just cause for the clamors and contempt which were excited against them.”

I am sorry to say that this idle, disgraceful custom prevails much at present among ministers of most denominations. I even find some in Wisconsin who profess to keep the commandments of God and look for the return of their Lord, who are indulging in it. But you say I have been so long accustomed to it I cannot leave it off. Alas! your case is truly deplorable; you are shorn of your strength, and power is now lacking to heed the expostulations of conscience. However try and see what God will do for you.

“I knew a woman,” says Dr. Clarke, “who had taken snuff, and immoderately too, for fifty years. She agreed with another lady who was also addicted to it, to leave it off. In a short time she got uneasy, by and by miserable, and lastly ran quite distracted. She was then obliged to resume it. Not long after, hearing the preaching of the Methodists she was

converted to God. From the band rules of that society she learned that she could not have a band ticket until she left it off. To give it up she was verily afraid, remembering what she had suffered before. However, she thought, then I did it in my own strength, now I will do it in the strength of the Lord. She did so, threw away her snuff-box, and abstained from it ever after and never suffered the slightest inconvenience in consequence.”

I would say to those in a similar condition, Go thou and do likewise. How can you fulfill the requirement of the text to do all to the glory of God in buying and using tobacco? I think Paul would say, touch not, taste not the unclean thing. I thank God that those who have been made free in Christ Jesus by the sanctifying power of the third angel's message are free from tobacco. I do hope that others who believe the message will also be made entirely free. There are some who use tobacco and think their brethren do not know it. I would say to such, Be not deceived; God is not mocked. It was God that said that hidden things should be brought to light. It was God that said, Do all you do to the glory of God. Do we not well to remember that dissembling does not glorify God? Says Jesus, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke ix, 23. Here we are taught that self must be denied in order to follow Jesus. Can we do this and yet use tobacco?

ISAAC SANBORN.

Monroe, Wis.