Chapter 176
What injunction regarding purity did Paul give Timothy?
"Keep thyself pure." 1 Tim. 5:22, last clause.
To what extent should all be kept pure?
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1.
Can one indulge in the use of anything filthy or polluting, and still be pure?
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Cor. 6:17.
What will the Lord [Yahuwah] do to those who defile the temple of God?
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:17.
What article in common use is defiling to the user?
"Chemists, botanists, and physicians unite in pronouncing tobacco one of the most deadly poisons known. No other poison, with the exception of prussic acid, will cause death so quickly, only three or four minutes being required for a fatal dose to produce its full effect.
"The active principle of tobacco, that, is nicotine, a heavy, oily substance, which may be separated from the dried leaf of the plant by distillation or infusion. The proportion of nicotine varies from two to eight percent, Kentucky and Virginia tobacco usually containing six or seven percent. A pound of tobacco contains, on an average, three hundred and eighty grains of this deadly poison, of which one tenth of a grain will kill a dog in ten minutes. A case is on record in which a man was killed in thirty seconds by this poison... Hottentots use the oil of tobacco to kill snakes, a single minute drop causing death as quickly as a lightning stroke. It is much used by gardeners and keepers of greenhouses to destroy grubs and noxious insects [its proper sphere of usefulness]." J. H. Kellogg, M.D., in Health Science Leaflets, No.16.
What are some of the symptoms of tobacco poisoning?
Dr. B. W. Richardson, one of the highest medical and scientific authorities of England, says: "Smoking produces disturbances (a). In the blood, causing undue fluidity and change in the red blood corpuscles; (b). In the stomach, giving rise to debility, nausea, and in extreme cases, sickness; (c). Of the heart, producing debility of that organ, and irregular action; (d). Of the organs of sense, causing, in the extreme degree, dilation of the pupil of the eye, confusion of vision, bright lines, luminous or cobweb specks, and long retention of images on the retina, with other and analogous symptoms affecting the ear, viz., inability clearly to define sounds, and the annoyance of a sharp, ringing sound like a whistle or a bell; (e). In the brain, suspending the waste of that organ, and oppressing it if it be duly nourished; (f). Of the nervous filaments and sympathetic or organic nerves, leading to deficient power in them, and to over secretion in those surfaces glands over which the nerves exert a controlling force; (g). In the mucous membrane of the mouth, causing enlargement and soreness of the tonsils, smoker's sore throat, redness, dryness, and occasional peeling off of the membrane, and either unnatural firmness and contraction or sponginess of the gums; (h). On the bronchial surface of the lungs when that is already irritable, sustaining the irritation and increasing the cough."
What does the apostle exhort all to do concerning their former habits?
"That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." l Peter 4:2.
What reason does he give for this advice?
"For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries." 1 Peter 4:3.
With whom was tobacco using first known?
In the month of November, 1492, when Columbus discovered the island of Cuba, he sent two sailors to explore it, who reported, when they returned, among many other strange and curious discoveries, that the natives carried with them lighted fire brands, and puffed smoke from their mouths and noses, which they supposed to be the way the savages had of perfuming themselves. They afterward declared that they "saw the naked savages twist large leaves together, and smoke like devils." Originating with the Indians of America, the smoking habit was, after some years, introduced into Europe; and was rapidly adopted, not only by the lower classes, but by those in high authority, even princes and nobles participating in the new intoxication.
How are all exhorted to glorify God?
"For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:20.
What course will those take who are looking for the Saviour?
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself even as He is pure." 1 John 2:2, 3.
When the saints are gathered at last into the city of God, who will be kept out?
"And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Rev. 21:21.
