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Be Careful What You Read, September 27
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge
and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:
he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Proverbs 2:6, 7
.
Age after age the curiosity of men has led them to seek for the tree
of knowledge; and often they think they are plucking fruit most essential,
when, like Solomon in his research, they find it altogether vanity and
nothingness in comparison with the science of true holiness.
Books from the pens of infidels should have no place in the libraries
of those who would serve God. They will make better kindling material
for your stove than food for the mind. Infidel books have been a cause of
ruin to many souls. Men have studied these books of Satan’s inspiration,
and they have become confused in regard to what was truth. Satan stands
at the side of him who opens an infidel book, and he will educate the mind
that peruses such literature, and so bewitch the soul that it will be almost
impossible to break the infatuation. Let no believer flatter himself that his
mountain standeth sure, and that he will never be moved away from his
position of faith.
We are surrounded by unbelief. The very atmosphere seems charged
with it; and only by constant effort can we resist its power. Those who
value their soul’s salvation should shun infidel writings as they would
shun the leprosy.
To the youth I would say, Be careful what you read. So long as the
mind is directed into wrong channels by an improper course of reading,
it is impossible for you to make the truth of God the constant subject of
meditation. If there was ever a time when a knowledge of the Scriptures
was more important than at any other, that time is the present. I appeal to
old and young, Make the Bible your textbook. Here you will find the true
standard of character.
Do not devote the precious talent of sight to reading that which ...
will not benefit you.... The powers of mind and soul and body are to be
sanctified to the Lord Jesus, who has bought you with His blood.
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