Unregenerate behavior

A curious statement in a letter to Phil that he contains in this post. The first portion of the quote is from a letterwriter. The latter is Phil's usual humorous response. (I don't think he can help himself.)

>By the way, Charles
>Spurgeon smoked cigars.
> Since smoking cigars is unregenerate behavior,
> how can you hold this man up as an example
> of what a Christian should be?

Well, at least he never killed any deer or Anabaptists.

As you can see there is a link in the middle of the quote, which is where my curiosity peaked. You see I am what I hope would be viewed as a reformed thinker. I also happen to quite enjoy a good cigar. Not often by some standards and quite too much by others. So this grabbed me.

The following article, if you go to the link, is quite enlightening regarding Spurgeon's opinion of the matter. It also speaks far more about legalism vs. Holy living than might be apparent on the surface. I must say that I have never felt any check in my heart about my occasional cigar habit, save once. That was a matter of inappropriate timing, and I will admit to wrongdoing in that case. As for the act itself being unregenerate, read what the Prince of Preachers had to say.

I am off to submit a quote on the matter to Rebecca, where it is Spurgeon quote month!