how
difficult it is for man to see and acknowledge the truth when some
cherished idol stands between him and the truth. It is not a difficult
thing to help him to comprehend the sinfulness of some evil thing which
his heart is not set upon, but he is blinded to any sin in the cherished
object of his affections.

Recently there were in a meeting two middle aged ladies. One of them was
fashionably dressed, while the other was uncommonly plain in her apparel.
The lady in the plain dress was addicted to the habit of using snuff. The
lady in the fashionable dress abhorred such a filthy practise. When the
Word of God was read on the comeliness and plainness of female attire, the
lady in the plain dress smiled and nodded assent. The lady whose heart was
set on costly apparel, expressed a rejection of God's Word in her
countenance and manner. In the discourse the subject was changed from the
wearing of gay clothing to the practise of tobacco using. When the habit
of using snuff was mentioned the plain lady's smile was turned to a sneer,
and the fashionable lady's sneer was turned to a smile. Afterwards in
conversation the fashionable lady said she believed it was a sin to use
snuff, but she could not see any evil in wearing gay and fine clothing.
The plain lady said she thought it was a sin to wear such plumed hats and
beaded dresses, but she could see no harm in using snuff. This proved to
us what we have before mentioned, that it is difficult for man to see any
sin in his idol.

If you are not very careful you will be seeking to justify yourself in
your indulgences, though they be wrong. So if you, dear reader, will lay
down all prejudice, with a heart open to reason and truth, we will
consider with you the use of tobacco. We claim, first, that tobacco is
injurious to health. The Bible tells us that we are not our own, but are
bought with a price; therefore we should glorify God in our body and
spirit which are his. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. Also that whether we eat or drink,
or whatsoever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31.
We can not indulge in anything injurious to the health of the body without
incurring the displeasure of God. Now we frequently meet strong looking,
and apparently healthy men, who have used tobacco for several years. Such
are often ready to say, "Tobacco does not hurt me." They are honest in
this. Being strongly constituted the poison of tobacco has not as yet
succeeded in affecting them to