Be exceedingly careful what you read.—Do not take up a book,
paper, or periodical, that happens to fall in your way, because you have
nothing else to read By so doing, you will expose yourself to great evils. But,
though a book be not decidedly objectionable, it may not be worth reading.
There are so many good books, at the present day, that it is not worth while to
spend time over what is of little value; and it is better to read the Bible
alone, than to spend time over a poor book.
Reading for amusement furnishes a constant temptation for
reading what is injurious. It promotes, also, an unprofitable manner of
reading. Reading in a hasty and cursory manner, without exercising your own
thoughts upon what you read, induces a bad habit of mind. To profit by reading
depends, not so much on the quantity which is read, as upon the manner in which
it is read. You may read a great deal, in a gormandizing way, as the glutton
consumes food, and yet be none the better, but the worse for what you read…
If
anyone should propose to you to associate with men and women of the lowest and
most abandoned character, you would shrink from the thought—you would be
indignant at the proposition. But it is not the mere bodily presence of such
characters that makes their society dangerous. It is the communion which you
have with their minds and hearts, in their conduct and conversation… literature
of the day is written by such characters. By reading their writings, you come
into communion with their minds and hearts, as much as if you were personally
in their company. In their writings, the fancies which fill their corrupt
minds, and the false and dangerous principles which dwell in their depraved
hearts, are transferred to paper, to corrupt the unwary reader. Here are,
likewise, glowing descriptions of evil conduct, more fascinating to the
youthful heart than the example itself would be, because the mischief is
artfully concealed behind the drapery of fine literary taste, and beautiful
language…
Think as you read.—Do not drink in the thoughts of others as you
drink water; but examine them, and see whether they carry conviction to your
own mind; and if they do, think them over, till they become incorporated with
your own thoughts, part and parcel of your own mind. Lay up facts and principles
in your memory. Let the beautiful thoughts and striking ideas that you discover
be treasured up as so many gems and precious stones, to enrich and beautify
your own mind. And let your heart be impressed and benefited by the practical
thoughts you find addressed to it.
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