The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-27

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character like ,sadinsae literature of a
people in the product a its past history, is
the index of its present stains and the seeds
of its future life If sensationalsm i'm
pregnates our Sabbath School literature in
ratio equal to that Which has been devel-
oped during the last decade, we may be
thankful if the Bible be studied at all ten
years hence. 1t is no rev thing for the peo-
pie of God to be influenced by the world
which surrounds them.s From time imme-
mortal the besetting sins of Gods people
have been homogeneous nth the prevailing
vices of their neighbors. While in Canaan,
Israel had trouble with the idolatry of the
heather Immediately Surrounding them, and
when the apostle organized church in Cor
inth or Ephesus, the particular type of iniq-
uity abounding in that locality, crept into
the church, and occasiuned trouble. This
susceptibility to such influences cannot as
yet be entirely eradicatef from the faithful,
else the injunction "be not conformed to
this world has become obsolete. Upon no
matter does it bear with more force and i'm
portance than upon the literature of the day,
the Era of the Novel;.
This age has been aptly described to be,
"The loftiest genius to gain the attention of
that vast audience, the masses must be con-
tent to clothe its inspirations in novel form"
The historian, the teacher of science or the
ology, the poet and moral lecturer must tell
story which has deeply-laid plot, an ex-
traordinary combination Of strange charac-
ters and circumstances tn rnheard of per-
ils iills sillts sill3 .,ie Won.,effuf
on the qul vive, and tnen their productions
are read. 1t may be useless to intimate
that the presentation of such stories bears
false witness against God, by at least tacity
and inferentially teaching that events occur
under wise and benefcent Providence, as
they are made to transpire in the story
Yet the fact is they will not evolve in every
day life as the modern novel suggests.
1t may be in vain also to protest against
such productions, because people, and par
ticularly youth, it is said, will read them
But in this we find most formidable argu-
ment against them, as it discovers the Ia
mentable fact that such reading produces
mental intoxcation. 1t holds the mind un-
der the dominion of feeling for perilous
length of time, causes intellectual dissipa-
ton to such an extent that the reader will
read if he die, thus developing the impor-
tance of a giving heed to the couplet--
"We should suspect some danger nigh,
Where we possess delight
But surely if youth have become SO en-
amored with this species of composition that
they will read nothing else, it is time it was
eradicated that something else may be read.
The two arguments for religious novels
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tereSt always CUM moaern Work
get married, die, or deliver some parting
speech, the like of which never came from