The Slave of Habit

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 30, 1866

The Slave of Habit.

IS HE A CHRISTIAN?

Your correspondent asks what he shall do, bound in the chains of habit, apparently beyond his power to break, and in the grasp also, though he may not know it, of a physical disease. For the state of the nerves, the irritation and longing produced by the habitual use of stimulants and narcotics, amount to a disease. The will may do much to break this habit, a firm resolution, a written pledge if you will. And then physically, if there were much suffering, a physician might recommend some soothing, some palliative, which might allay it. To those who chew tobacco, some other substance in the mouth—a little sweet flag, or tea (not too much,) or orris root—may allay the longing. There is a positive crying out of the nerves, which mere moral suasion can hardly reach. However, do your best; the victory once won, the reward is sure.

But I was reminded of a story told me by a missionary, of an old chief on the west Coast of Africa. Poor, feeble, miserable, the old man had found some slight solace, as he thought, in tobacco; but he became a Christian, and then he began to apply his principles to his conduct. He heard (for he could not yet read) some of the instructions in the Epistles of Paul, and his conscience was not at ease. He asked the missionary what was right, and was told he must follow what his conscience told him.

Some time after he met the poor old man, to whom hardly a comfort remained, and he said, “I have given up the tobacco. The Lord told me to.”

“But was it not very hard?” said his friend.

“Oh yes, very hard,” was his answer; “and sometimes I thought I could not bear it; but then, when I felt the worst, I pray to Massa Jesus all the time.”

This is why I ask, “Is he a Christian?”

Because one in the grasp of an evil habit, and the prey to an actual disease, such as this craving of the nerves may become, may not fear to seek help from above.

Strength of will may do much. I remember the case of a sea-captain who had become the victim of a stronger appetite, or rather a more fatal one, drink. He resolved that he would break it off; and he succeeded, but his struggles were fearful. He kept out of the way of temptation, and day by day he walked on the shore, battling with the tempter. His friends sympathized with him, and often a pitcher of milk was placed within his reach, of which he drank eagerly. No doubt the bland fluid allayed the angry craving of the inflamed and diseased nerves of the stomach. He conquered, and was saved.

Medical science may suggest alleviations in this craving for tobacco. But oh, better still never to awaken the appetite. Young men, boys, don’t sell yourselves into slavery.—N. Y. Independent.