The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-11-15
Value o. Devotional Reading.

any BOOK which Will not leave IN
mind and heart some helpful,
strengthening, or uplifting thought.
This is not saying that we should
never read any but distinctively
religious books. All truth is en-
riching. History, brightly read,
inspires adoring feeling. Books
of science help US to think over
again Gods thoughts, and thus
stimulate reverence. Poetry, if
true and pure, is wondrously ele-
waiting, even though 1t may not
treat of spiritual themes. Good
fiction may teach US noble lessons
in conduct, sketch for rs the loft
lest things in character, and Inspire
in US whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are pure, what
soever things are lovely. Even
humor has its place as means Of
grace. There are times when what
a good man needs above all things
is hearty laugh. The man who
writes truly witty things has a
mission. Thus there is no good
boob OF any order which may not
have its place in helping US to
grow in grace.
Yet there is a special class of
books which may f.ly be used as
devotional helps. When we speak
of devotions we usually refer to
the "silent times" which every
earnest Christian must get into his
days, even the busiest of his days.
Much is said of the necessity Of
secret prayer. Perhaps rot enough
is said of the necessity of devotion.
al reading as part of the exercise
of devotion. 1t is not enough to
speak to God to tell him of our
wants, our dangers, our sins,
our troubles, and 20 plead with
him for help, for favor, for COM
fort. We must also let God talk
to us. We must feed our souls.
No exercise is complete without
the reading of som" sentence or
sentences which will start in the
mind uplifting thoughts, give US a
suggestion of new lesson to be
learned, show Us a glimpse of spir-
itual beauty to be reached after. or
speak to Us word that we may
rest on in our weakness or take as
rod and staff in the valley.
Of course, the Bible is always
10 be the first book in such exer.
cises. 1t is never to be left out.
A "silent time with prayer, and
yet without a verse or more of the
simple word of God, lacks an es-
sential element. We must hear
God speak to us while we speak to
him Perhaps the best of all de.
votional exercises is illustrated in
the oft-told incident of Bpngel. He
was known to be much in prayer,
t. spend long seasons of time in
his private devotions. Some one
was curious to know something of
the way he prayed, and hid him
self in the good mans study one
evening to watch him at his secret
devotlons. Bengel sat long at his
table vita hia New Testament open
before him. He read on quietly
yet uttered no word Of prayer that
the watcher could hear. Some
times he would pause over a verse
and his face would glow and his
eyes would be turned upward; bat
he did not speak. AT length the
clock struck midnight, and then
the sanity man clasped his hands
on the open book and SAID, Dear
Lord Jesus. we are on the same
old terms" That was all the Gu
rious intruder heard. Yet for an
hour or longer the loving heart had
been holding sweet converse with
Christ.
Such an hour is worth a thous-
and Of the hurried. stereotyped
secret prayers" which many
Christians make, oftimes without
any true devotion or real commun-
ing. When we sit down with our
best friend, we do not merely ask
4 few tavors, and make fe "
complaints, and utter few groans
and then run away. We commune
with our friend. We may ask no
favor at all; rather we seek to have
our hearts flow together in love,
as we converse on themes that are
sacred to US both. Secret prayer
should not be merely an unburden-
inc of orr heart q falling of onr