Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-02-19

way of them, avoid them, pass not BY |
them. turn. from them, and pass away p
Evil books, like evil companions, possess
the magic power of assinilaiing to them
selves all who are familiarity conversant
with them. So that with respect to them, |
as well as the other, it may be said, tell
me what company you keep, and | will
tell you wha. you are.
How cautious then ought you TO lie in
the selection Of books, both for yourselves
AMI others and how scrupulously 10
avoid the reading of such as have been
here adverted TO. Look al the native
character of man, conceived in sin, and
brought forth in iniquity, prone to evil
as the sparks fly upward How difficult
is it TO effect in him any moral renova-
ton Variety of means adapted 10 this
purpose by infinite wisdom and unbound
ed grace are in continued operation bu;
with all their power how little do they &C.
compish Will you increase the diff
Guilty, by cherishing influences of an OPP
posite tendency, which will blind the
mind, scar the conscience, harden the
heart, and render change still more diff
cult? If you in this manner resist the
efforts of grace, and waste the season Of
merciful visitation, what can you antici
( pate but TO be given up of God to hard
ness of heart and to blindness of mind
You, my young friends, are particular.
ly exposed 10 danger from these sources
While natural curiosity and propensity
to skepticism interests you In the first
class of works, and the workings, of pass
J ion give you a relish for the second, fash
ion and the love Of amusement incline
you TO the third. And never was the
danger greater than at the present day.
lnhdeilly, RIGHTEOUSNESS and fancy are all
IN motion. The press teens with books
OF every character, and particularly of
the latter class; and every art is employ
ed to give them circulation. The typog.
rapher, the engraver, and binder, concen-
tra:e their powers TO render them attract
lve Their prices are reduced to a trihe,
and the temptation to possess, and OF
course to read, becomes almost irresisli-
BILE.
Give heed, then, beloved youth, 10 this
voice OF warning. You would not ex-
pose your bodies to the pestilence or the
hurricane and will you suffer a moral
tempest to sweep over the soul? Rather
turn away from that which will corrup,
and destroy, and diligently improve the
means with which YOU are favored. and
you may forify yourselves agains. pres
ent evil, and reap The harvest of eternal
good. While Wisdom cries, and under.
standing puts forth her voice, why will
We spend your money for that which is
not bread, ard your labor for that whic Il
satlsfieth not2 Eat We that which is
good, and let your soul delight itseIr in
tatness.' Every end to be gained from
such works. can be gained in a far high
er degree, aud with comparative safety.
from books of different character. Ii
you would crafty curiosity, find rational
amusement and combine profit with
pleasure, read history, biography, works
of science ard polite literature. They
will improve the mind without causing il
TO err. But evil books are like the for
hidden fruit. You taste OF them at the
hazard Ct your eternal weIl-being.
While, then, we warn both young and
old against that which infuses poison, we
would earnestly Recommend those works
which purify and save tie soul. Above
all, search the scriptures. They are the
wisdom and power of God TO salvation, to
every one that beieveth.' These and
kIndred writings are proper food for the
immortal miud-causlng it, under the
Divine blessing TO grow up into ever,ast.
ing life; whilst the direct tendency Of
those upon witch We have anmadverted
IS to corrupt, to dlssipate and DESTROY.
OuF subject furnishes solemn rebuke
to those who, for paItry gain, employ
themselves IN writing, printing, or selling
lnhdel, Impure, or fictitious works
works which they know, or ought 10
Know, are adapted to waste the time. per-
veit the taste, corrupt the morals, and ru-
Ia the souls of men. Could the spirits of
lost millions come up from their abodes of
NO. would they not say TO such. with af.
fectlng emphasis,-You, aud such as
you' have been the instruments Of our
eternal undoing You furnish the fatal
poison which causeth 10 err from the
words of knowledger
Our subject, also, solemnly urges upon
parents and instructors Of youth, the dutv
OF seeing that they are amply supplied
with proper food for the mind and new.
er INDUCED with snch as tends to dissi-
pate corrupt, ana destroy. Let them
forthwith examine their library, and ifI
II need be, follow the noble example Of
those who for conscience's sake ana the
gospeis, at once sacrificed books II Tho