38 A LECTURE ON TOBACCO. 



to ask that a man should give up two bad habits at once 

 have let the reformed drunkard smoke his pipe in peace. 

 Many even suppose that smokers are less likely to drink, 

 and therefore the habit is often encouraged in Temperance 

 coffee-houses. On this point we may express an opinion 

 by-and-by. 



If there is truth in a quarter of what has been said 

 of the bad effects of tobacco, it seems strange that those 

 whose calling it is to be "watchmen" and to "warn the 

 people," have been so silent respecting it in the pulpit. 

 This reticence may partly arise from our conventional 

 notions. Wi?te, strong drink, drunke7itiess, &c., are 

 " Scripture words." We read denunciations of them in our 

 devotional services ; but those who think more of the 

 letter than of the spirit of the Bible deem it unscriptural 

 and undignified, if not rather profane, to preach about 

 tobacco ! Its triviality is its safeguard ; there is levity in 

 smoke. How can you fight with a cloud or a puff? And 

 if it is treated seriously, what refined language can 

 fully deal with a habit which, in itself or its results, is 

 often so filthy? Many, therefore, avoid the subject 

 because they do not know how to speak upon it without 

 causing more displeasure than benefit ; while others are 

 already slaves to the habit, and have no desire to question 

 its propriety or expose its abuses. 



Meanwhile the weed keeps on growing. While less 

 tobacco is taken in the form of snuff, there has been a 

 great increase of smoking. For this, three reasons may 

 be given, (i) We have had far more intercourse than 

 formerly with smoking nations, especially the Germans. 

 (2) The facilities for outdoor smoking are greatly in- 

 creased by the invention of lucifers ; in my early days 



