A JEREMIAD. 129 



to divide amongst the smoakers and their heirs for 

 ever. By which the world may see what mischief this 

 Land robber doth amongst them." He adds " The sin 

 of the kingdom in the intemperate use of tohacco, 

 swelleth and increaseth so daily, that I can compare it 

 to nothing but the waters of Noah, that swell'd fifteen 

 cubits above the highest mountains. So that if this 

 practice shall continue to increase as it doth, in an 

 age or two it will be as hard to find a family free, as it 

 was so long time since one that commonly took it." 

 But the author is most pained that the pious should 

 indulge in the habit, and in his horror at recording the 

 fact, he rises so far above himself, that we quote his 

 own words : " But above all, that this practice should 

 overgrow all the powers of reason, religion, and ex- 

 perience amongst most part of the godly, is yet to be 

 admired : * that a thing should grow to that height in 

 their affections (that is not naturally pleasant) is a 

 wonder : that they should suffer such an unnatural fire 

 to be kindled in their nature, that proves in the event 

 to be such a world of iniquity, and puts them in such 

 a ferment and disorder, may make us cry out with the 

 prophet Jeremiah, chap. 2, v. 12, ' Be astonished, Oh 

 ye heavens, at this ! be ye horribly afraid, be ye very 

 desolate, saith the Lord of Hosts ! ' " 



Even this did not " put the pipe out " of any faithful 

 lover of the weed ; the clergy were great favourers of 



* Let no modern reader understand this word in a modern sense ; words 

 change meanings marvellously as times change. Mr. Spooner's admiration 

 is a frightened astonishment or holy horror. 



