The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-04-15

W
There are some people in the
world who seldom ever read any
thing but the secular newspaper.
But to those who have found time
for an hours reading among the re-
lieious thought OF the world, have
desired to know what to read; "what
can read to spend this hour in the
most profitable way?" there may be,
I think three questions asked as to
Christian reading.
l. WHAT SHALL READ!
Reading is an educator, but
whether our readingiresults in good
or bad education depends upon what
we read. The thought of reading
seems to have risen in the minds Of
the prophet, Isaiah, when he said,
"seek ye out the book of the Lord,
and read"
This I would say is the best OF all
books to read. If you can spend only
one hour in reading let me ask you to
spend that hour in reading and medi-
tating over the "book of the ages,
the Bible" Eere you will find the
grandest history that has ever been
recorded. Here the biography of
the most glorious and illustrious men
that have ever existed upon this
earth. In the bible are to be found
some of the most thrilling stories to
be found in any book. So in short,
what ever our inclinations are, or
whatever be our desire, we will find
inthe bible just what We need.
Colridge has said that there are
four kinds of readers: "First-class
are those, who may be compared to
an hour glass, their reading being as
the sand: it runs in and runs out, and
lleaves not vestage behind.
Second-class resembles a sponge,
which imbibes everything and re-
turns it in nearly the same state, only
a little dirtier.
Thir,l-class is like a jelly-bag, which
allows all that is pure to pass away,
and retains only the refuse and cress.
! Fourth-class may be compared to
the slaves of Golcando, who, casting
aside all that is worthless, preserves
only the pure gems.
"Books are like friends, should be
few, and we'll chosen and from these
we'll chosen books let US gather the
gems. Robert WeidensalI, an active
Christian worker, was once being en-
tertained at the home Of a Christian
woman. The woman desired, as she
expressed it, to "grow in grace" aud
requested him to give her all the
help he could. AS he was leaving he
told her the little story so full of
truth:
"Once," said he, "when at my old
home in the country, saw a hen
vigorously scratching in the yard for
her DINER. AS I stood watching her
she scratched up silver quarter. If
she had known the value of the
money, and could have used it, she
could have provided herself with that
which she needed. Around and
around, back and forth, went the
quarter, as the hen scratched for her
food. I was reminded of this her"
said the gentleman, cas- saw you in
your library this morning. Hungry
for spiritual food, you came in your
library to read, and Your bible, that
which would give you the food you
needed lay on your table. You
scratched over and pulled from the
bottom of the papers 'Harper's
monthly and like the hen you kept
scratching the bible to right side and
left, ignorant OF its value, trying to
get food from the books of men,"
How true this lesson, does it not
strike US all? There are many books
that should never enter our homes.
1t has been my great pleasure to
burn some which have come to me as
Gift. There is book being circulat-
ed through the mails, entitled "Heav-
en- and its Wonders and He'll" by
Swedenborg. This is the most fatal
book, outside of positive in6delity.
that you could place in your home,
It is infdelism. The writer claims to
have died and gone to heaven, and
investigated all of the heavenly courts,
and then returned to hell and saw all
of its horrors, etc, then back to earth to
tell the people. Never should book
of this nature enter my home or have
any one Influenced by it. "The
Science of Correspondence Eluci-
dated" by Madeley, is another of the
same publications, and while I have
not read it, I believe it to be dan
gerous book. DR.. Brouders said
that"a man could not spend one hour
in reading the bible without being
greatly benefited; likewise he could
not read "The Chicago Times" one
hour without being badly injured"
Many people who call themselves
Christians are spending not only
hours but days over the Chicago
Times or some trashy novel. The
influence of bad book is as vicious
as that of an evil companion, and in
some cases more so.
know of boy who spent night
after night reading the daring stories
of an adventure. He became tired of
home, restless, and from his kindred
and home and friends he has wan
dered. To-day, like the prodigal, he
is in "a far country" somewhere in
the unknown West. I believe the
continual reading fred his soul for
that life.