A Counter-Blaste to Tobacco | Page 6

as it cures all
sorts of diseases (which neuer any drugge could do before) in all
persons, and at all times. It cures all maner of distellations, either in the
head or stomacke (if you beleeue their Axiomes) although in very
deede it doe both corrupt the braine, and by causing ouer quicke
disgestion, fill the stomacke full of crudities. It cures the Gowt in the
feet, and (which is miraculous) in that very instant when the smoke
thereof, as light, flies vp into the head, the vertue thereof, as heauie,
runs downe to the little toe. It helpes all sorts of Agues. It makes a man
sober that was drunke. It refreshes a weary man, and yet makes a man
hungry. Being taken when they goe to bed, it makes one sleepe soundly,
and yet being taken when a man is sleepie and drowsie, it will, as they
say, awake his braine, and quicken his vnderstanding. As for curing of
the Pockes, it serues for that vse but among the pockie Indian slaues.
Here in England it is refined, and will not deigne to cure heere any
other then cleanly and gentlemanly diseases. Omnipotent power of
Tobacco! And if it could by the smoke thereof chace our deuils, as the
smoke of Tobias fish did (which I am sure could smel no stronglier) it
would serue for a precious Relicke, both for the superstitious Priests,
and the insolent Puritanes, to cast out deuils withall. Admitting then,
and not confessing that the vse thereof were healthfull for some sortes
of diseases; should it be vsed for all sicknesses? should it be vsed by all
men? should it be vsed at al times? yea should it be vsed by able, yong,
strong, healthfull men? Medicine hath that vertue that it neuer leaueth a
man in that state wherein it findeth him: it makes a sicke man whole,

but a whole man sicke. And as Medicine helpes nature being taken at
times of necessitie, so being euer and continually vsed, it doth but
weaken, wearie, and weare nature. What speak I of Medicine? Nay let a
man euery houre of the day, or as oft as many in this countrey vse to
take Tobacco, let a man I say, but take as oft the best sorts of
nourishments in meate and drinke that can bee deuised, hee shall with
the continuall vse thereof weaken both his head and his stomacke: all
his members shall become feeble, his spirits dull, and in the end, as a
drowsie lazie belly-god, he shall euanish in a Lethargie.
And from this weaknesse it proceeds, that many in this kingdome haue
had such a continuall vse of taking this vnsauerie smoke, as now they
are not able to forbeare the same, no more than an olde drunkard can
abide to be long sober, without falling into an vncurable weakenesse
and euill constitution: for their continuall custome hath made to them,
_habitum, alteram naturam_: so to those that from their birth haue bene
continually nourished vpon poison and things venemous, wholesome
meates are onely poisonable.
Thus hauing, as I truste, sufficiently answered the most principall
arguments that are vsed in defence of this vile custome, it rests onely to
informe you what sinnes and vanities you commit in the filthie abuse
thereof. First are you not guiltie of sinnefull and shamefull lust? (for
lust may bee as well in any of the senses as in feeling) that although
you bee troubled with no disease, but in perfect health, yet can you
neither be merry at an Ordinarie, nor lasciuious in the Stewes, if you
lacke Tobacco to prouoke your appetite to any of those sorts of
recreation, lusting after it as the children of Israel did in the wildernesse
after Quailes? Secondly it is, as you vse or rather abuse it, a branche of
the sinne of drunkennesse, which is the roote of all sinnes: for as the
onely delight that drunkards take in wine is in the strength of the taste,
and the force of the fume thereof that mounts vp to the braine: for no
drunkards loue any weake, or sweete drinke: so are not those (I meane
the strong heate and the fume), the onely qualities that make Tobacco
so delectable to all the louers of it? And as no man likes strong headie
drinke the first day (because _nemo repente fit turpissimus_), but by
custome is piece and piece allured, while in the ende, a drunkard will

haue as great a thirst with a draught as when hee hath need of it: So is
not this the very case of all the great takers of _Tobacco_? which
therefore they themselues do attribute to a bewitching qualitie in it.
Thirdly, is it not the greatest sinne of