MR. SPURGEON ON SELF-DENIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4292, 22 December 1874, Page 3

MR. SPURGEON ON SELF-DENIAL.

Mr. Spurgeon, though a stem dogmatist, yet recognises the weakness of humanity. On Sunday, September 23, (the London Guardian states), the rev. gentleman preached a shorter sermon than usual, in order to enable Mr. Pentecost, an American minister, to say a few words. Mr. Pentecost accordingly gave the following bit of personal experience :—“He was willing, he thought, to give up anything or everything, if only he might realise the desire of his heart. And what did they think it was that the Lord required of him ? He liked exceedingly the best cigar which could be bought, and the thought came into his mind, could he relinquish this indulgence if its relinquishment would advance his piety ? He tried to dismiss the idea as a mere fancy or scruple ; but it came again and again to him, and he was satisfied that it was the still small voice which was speaking. He remembered having given up smoking by the wish of his ministerial brethren when he was twenty-one years of age, for four years. But then he had resumed the habit, for he declared during that four years he never saw or smelt a cigar which lie did not want to smoko. Now, however, he felt it to be his duty to give it up again, and so unequal did he feel to the self-denial, that he ‘took his cigar-box before the Lord,” and cried to Him for help. This help was given, and the habit renounced.” Mr. Spurgeon thereupon rose and said: —“ Well, dear friends, you know that some men can do to the glory of God what to other men would be sin. And, notwithstanding what Brother Pentecost has said, I intend to smoko a good cigar to the glory of God before I go to bed to-night. If anybody can show me in the Bible the command, ‘Thou shaft not smoke,’ I am ready to keep it, but I haven’t found it yet. I find Ten Commandments, and it’s as much as I can do to keep them, and I’ve no desire to make them into eleven or twelve.” Mr. Spurgeon has since addressed to the Daily Telegraph a defence of his language :—“The expression ‘smok-

ing to the glory of God’ standing- alone has an ill sound, and I do not justify it ; but in the sense in which I employed it, I will stand to it. No Christian should do anything in which he cannot glorify God—and this may be done, according to Scripture, in eating and drinking and the' common actions of life. When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God and have blessed His name ; this is what I meant, and by no means did I use sacred words triflingly. If through smoking I had wasted an hour of my time—if I had stinted my gifts to the poor ; if I had rendered my mind less vigorous—l trust I should see my fault, and turn from it ; but he who charges me with these things, shall have no answer but my forgiveness.”