s
medicinal powers. Many, after finding or fancying relief from its
occasional, have fallen into its habitual use, and the remedy has thus
virtually proved worse than the disease. Besides, by this course,
persons take away the hope of future benefit from the application, in
case of a recurrence of their disorder.

That this habit is entirely unevangelical, Dr. Clarke attempts to show
with much zeal. Let those who profess to renounce the lusts of the flesh
read his tract, and determine, conscientiously, how far his arguments
are worthy of attention. That the devout "roll this sin as a sweet
morsel under the tongue," is fully evinced by every day's experience;
and the following anecdote from Dr. Clarke forms a good illustration of
this text.

"An eminent physician," says he, "gave me the following
account:--'When I was at L----, in the year 1789, a certain
religious people at one of their annual meetings made a rule,
or rather revived one which had been long before made and
established among them by their venerable founder, but had been
in a great measure lost sight of, viz.--That no minister in
their connexion should use snuff or tobacco, unless prescribed
by a physician. This rule at once showed their prudence and
good sense. Towards the conclusion of the meeting, having
offered my assistance to as many as stood in need of medical
help, several of them consulted me on the subject of taking
tobacco in one form or other; and with very little variation
their mode of address was as follows:--'Doctor, I am troubled
frequently with such a complaint, (naming it,) I take tobacco,
and have found great benefit from the use of it; I am sure were
I to give it up I should be very ill indeed; and I am certain
that you are too wise and too skilful a man to desire me to
discontinue a practice which has been so beneficial to me.'
After such an address what could I say? It was spoken with
serious concern, and was properly _argumentum ad hominem_: I
knew they were sincere, but I knew also they were deceived:
however, to the major part of them I ventured to speak thus:
'gentlemen, you certainly do me honour in the confidence you
repose in my skill, but you have brought me into a dilemma from
which I cannot easily extricate myself; as I find I must either
say as you say on the subject, or else renounce all pre