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 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.