The influence of
Christian literature
Why read the Puritans?
The authors we publish are noted for their sound,
rich theology—their deep devotion—their extensive knowledge of Scripture—and
their constant aim to improve the heart, to guide the conscience, and to
sanctify the life. Their works are worthy to be held in everlasting
remembrance.
"There is a richness and fullness of
divine truth in the old writers, which, with all their antiquated
style—the modern writers lack. And oh! their devotion—their communion with
God—their sustained and elevated piety! This is what we lack—this is our
deficiency!" (John Angell James, June 2, 1856)
"What is written is permanent, and spreads itself further by far—for
time, place, and people—than the voice
can reach." (Thomas Brooks)
"This is a reading age—and as
books are cheap, largely read, and easily procurable, the press has come
to embrace a wider circle and to possess a greater influence on the public
mind than any other medium of communication. The Christian press has spread
itself in all directions, and exercises an influence scarcely inferior to
that of the pulpit. Works, therefore, written by gracious men, whether
living or dead, may be viewed as exercising a ministry of their own,
running, as it were, parallel to that of the pulpit, and in harmony with
it—but possessing the advantage of penetrating into places, and speaking on
occasions where the voice of the living preacher cannot come, as well as of
being accessible at all times, lying silently and unobtrusively on the table
or the bookshelf, ready to be taken up or laid down at pleasure—and, if we
have well chosen them, our trustiest friends and wisest counselors, who will
always tell us the truth without fear and without flattery."
(J. C. Philpot, "New Years' Address" 1868)
Books may preach . . .
when the author cannot,
when the author may not,
when the author dares not,
yes, and which is more,
when the author is not.
(Thomas Brooks)
"In books for spiritual edification,
much depends upon the manner in which they are read. If taken up carelessly
and read in a light mood, they are likely to do little good. The attention
will not be fixed, nor the heart engaged, nor the conscience awakened. You
must be somewhere alone with God—where you can have leisure and opportunity
to commune with your own heart and with Him—where you can pause, reflect,
and pray, unobserved by a single fellow-creature—where you can stop,
examine, meditate, and it may be, weep.
Before you read another chapter, put down the volume, fall upon your knees
and agonize in prayer, that the perusal may be blessed to your soul. Take
the book with you into your closet. Read it in your most serious hours, in
your greatest privacy, and in the most solemn manner." (John Angell James)
"If we can throw any light on the word of truth, if we can enable our
readers more clearly to understand, more firmly to believe, and more
experimentally to feel the power of what God has revealed in the Scriptures
for their instruction, edification, and consolation, that will be our chief
reward, as, we hope, it is our chief aim." (J. C. Philpot)
"If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this
country, I do not know what is going to become of us as a nation. If truth
is not diffused—error will be. If God and His Word are not known and
received—the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy. If the
evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet—the pages of a corrupt and
licentious literature will. If the power of the Gospel is not felt
throughout the length and breadth of the land—anarchy and misrule,
degradation and misery, corruption and darkness, will reign without
mitigation or end." (Daniel Webster, 1823)
"We have often thought that if the
children of God who are blessed with time and opportunity, instead of
galloping over the flimsy religious productions of the present day, would
set themselves prayerfully and carefully to read these old sovereign grace
authors, they would, with God's blessing, derive a benefit from them, that
would amply repay them. We can say for ourselves that when favored with a
spiritual frame, we have rarely taken up any of these authors without
finding some instruction, or edification, or reproof, or something to do our
soul good, and draw it up to heavenly things." (J. C. Philpot)
Richard Baxter's Guide To The Value Of A Book
Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy Scriptures ever have the preeminence. Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it.
While reading ask yourself:
1. Could I spend this time no better?
2. Are there better books that would edify me more?
3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest
lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?
4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God,
kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?
"The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like
firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in
addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study
wearies the body." Ecclesiastes 12:11-12