What Should I Read?
Charles Henry Mackintosh
Table of Contents
What Should I Read?
The question which forms the heading of this paper is one of real weight and practical importance. There is much more involved in it than we might perhaps be disposed to admit. It is a common saying, " Show me your company, and I will tell you what you are." It may, with equal truth, he said, " Show me your library and I will tell you where you are." Our reading may be taken as a rule, as the great indicator of our moral, intellectual, and spiritual condition. Our books are our mental and spiritual pabulum, the material on which the inner man feeds. Hence the seriousness of the entire question of christian reading. Indeed we may freely own to the reader of these lines that this subject has engrossed us much of late; and we feel constrained, in faithfulness to the Lord and to the souls of our readers, to offer a few words of admonition in reference to what we cannot but regard as a matter of real moment to all Christians.
We observe, with deep concern, a growing distaste for solid reading, especially amongst young Christians—though alas! it is not confined to them. Newspapers, religious novels, sensational tales, all sorts of poisonous and trashy literature are eagerly devoured, while volumes of most weighty and precious truth lie uncut and neglected on the bookshelf.
All this we consider most deplorable. We look upon it as a most alarming indication of a low spiritual condition. Indeed it is difficult to conceive how any one possessing a single spark of divine life can find pleasure in such defiling rubbish as one sees now-a-days, in the hands of many who occupy the very highest ground of christian profession. The inspired apostle exhorts all Christians, "As new-born babes, to desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby." How can we grow if we neglect the word of God, and yet devour newspapers and light worthless books? How is it possible for any Christian to be in a healthy condition of soul who can barely find a few hasty moments to run his eye over a verse or two of scripture, but can give hours to light and desultory reading? We may depend upon it our reading proves, beyond question, what we are, and where we are. If our reading is light and frivolous, our state is the same. If our Christianity is of a solid and earnest type, it will be distinctly evidenced by our habitual and voluntary reading—the reading to which we turn for our recreation and refreshment.
Some, perhaps, may say, "We cannot be always reading the Bible and good books." We reply, and that with plain decision and emphasis, the new nature would never care to read anything else. Now the question is, whether do we wish to minister to the old nature or the new? If the latter, we may rest assured that newspapers and light literature are not the means to be used. It is utterly impossible that a truly spiritual, earnest Christian can find any enjoyment in such reading. It may be that a Christian engaged in business or in public official life, will have occasion, in connection with his business or his official duty, to refer to a newspaper; but this is another thing altogether from finding his actual enjoyment and recreation in such reading. He will not find the hidden manna or the old corn of the land of Canaan in the newspaper. He will not find Christ in the sensational novel.
It is a poor low thing to hear a Christian say, " How can we be always reading the Bible?" or, " What harm is there in reading a story book?" All such questions afford melancholy evidence of the fact that the soul has got far away from Christ. This is what makes it so very serious. Spiritual decline must have set in and made alarming progress, ere a Christian could think of asking such questions. And hence there is little use in arguing about the right or the wrong of things. There is no ability to argue aright, no capacity to weigh evidence. The whole spiritual and moral condition is wrong. " There is death in the pot." What is really needed is thorough restoration of soul. You must "bring meal" or in other words, apply a divine remedy to meet the diseased state of the constitution.
We feel pressed in spirit to call the serious attention of the christian reader to this great practical question. We deem it to be one of deepest seriousness. We cannot doubt but that the extremely low spiritual tone of Christianity amongst us is owing, in many cases, to the reading of light and worthless literature. The moral effect of all such is most pernicious. How can a soul prosper, how can there be growth in the divine life where there is no real love for the Bible or for books which unfold the precious contents of the Bible to our souls? Is it possible that a Christian can be in a healthy condition of soul who really prefers some light work to a volume designed for true spiritual edification? We do not, and cannot believe it. We are persuaded that all true-hearted, earnest Christians—all who truly desire to get on in divine things—all who really love Christ, and are breathing after heaven and heavenly things—all such will be found diligently reading the holy scriptures and thankfully availing themselves of any good, helpful books which may come within their reach. They will have neither time nor taste for newspapers or light literature. With them it will not be a question as to the right or the wrong of such reading, they simply have no desire for it, they do not want it, would not have it. They have something far better. " With ashes who would grudge to part, when called on angels' bread to feast?"
We trust our readers will bear with us in writing thus plainly and pointedly. We really feel constrained as in view of the judgment-seat of Christ, to do so. And we can only say, Would that we could write as earnestly as we feel on the subject. We consider it one of the weightiest and most practical questions which can engage our attention. We entreat the Christian reader to shun and discountenance all light reading. Let us each ask the question, when about to take up a book or a paper, " Should I like my Lord to come and find this in my hand? or can I take this into the presence of God, and ask His blessing upon the reading of it? Can I read it to the glory of the name of Jesus?" If we cannot say " Yes" to these questions, then, by the grace of God, let us fling the paper or the book away, and devote our spare moments to the blessed word of God, or to some spiritual volume written thereon. Then shall our souls be nourished and strengthened; we shall grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and the fruits of righteousness shall abound in our practical life, to the glory of God.
It may be, however, that some of our friends would repudiate altogether the habit of reading human writings. Some there are who take the ground of reading nothing but the Bible. They tell us they find all they want in that peerless volume, and that human writings are rather a hindrance than a help.
Well, as to this, each one must judge for himself. No one can be a rule for another. We certainly cannot take this high ground. We bless the Lord, each day, more and more, for all the gracious helps vouchsafed to us by means of the writings of His beloved servants. We look upon them as a most precious stream of refreshment and spiritual blessing, flowing down from our glorified Head in the heavens, for which we can never praise Him enough. We should just as soon think of refusing to hear a brother speak in the assembly, as of refusing to read his writings, for what is either but a branch of ministry given of God for our profit and edification?
No doubt we have to exercise a jealous care lest we make too much of ministry, whether oral or written; but the possible abuse of a thing is no valid argument against the use of it. There is danger on every side; and most surely it is a very dangerous thing to despise ministry. We are, none of us, self-sufficient. It is the divine purpose that we should be helpful one to another. We cannot do without" that which every joint supplieth." How many will have to praise God throughout eternity for blessing received through books and tracts! How many there are who never get an atom of spiritual ministry save what the Lord sends them through the press. It will be said, " They have the Bible." True, but all have not the same ability to fathom the living depths, or seize the moral glories, of the Bible. No doubt, if we cannot have either oral or written ministry, the Spirit of God can feed us directly in the green pastures of holy scripture. But who will deny that the writings of God's servants are used by the Holy Ghost as a most powerful agency in building up the Lord's people in their most holy faith? It is our firm conviction that God has made more use of such agency during the last forty years than ever before in the entire history of the church.
And cannot we praise Him for it? Truly so. We should praise Him, with full and glowing hearts; and we should earnestly pray Him to grant still further blessing on the writings of His servants—to deepen their tone, increase their power, and widen their sphere. Human writings, if not clothed with the power of the Holy Ghost, are just so much waste paper. And in like manner the voice of the public preacher or teacher, if not the living vehicle of the Holy Ghost, is but a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. But the Holy Ghost does make use of both agencies for the blessing of souls, and the spread of the truth; and we deem it a serious mistake for anyone to despise an agency which God is pleased to adopt. Indeed we must confess we have rarely met anyone who refused the help of human writings who did not prove exceedingly narrow, crude, and one-sided. This is only what we might expect, inasmuch as it is the divine method to make us mutually helpful one to another; and hence, if any one affects to be independent or self-sufficient, he must sooner or later find out his mistake.
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