Here is the second post in this series on reading Christian books, following on from this one. Here are a few quotes on reading from centuries past.
The first is taken from the introductory “Word to the Reader” from a book by Thomas Brooks published in 1652. Brooks was a English Puritan who lived from 1608 to 1680. Source: click here.
Remember, it is not hasty reading—but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee’s touching of the flower, which gathers honey—but her abiding for a time upon the flower, which draws out the sweet. It is not he who reads most—but he who meditates most, who will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (1652).
The second quote comes from over 200 years later, from a sermon given in 1863 by Charles Spurgeon, an English Baptist who lived from 1834-1892. The sermon text was 2 Timothy 4:13. Source: click here.
He [Paul] is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, “Give thyself unto reading.” The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, “Bring the books”—join in the cry.
C.H. Spurgeon, Paul—his Cloak and His Books, Sunday Morning, 29th November 1863, (Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington)
The final quote I offer up for your consideration comes from C.S. Lewis’s modern introduction to a very old book by Athanasius (who lived c.295-377AD) called On The Incarnation. Lewis was an Anglican who lived 1898-1963 and here he was writing about reading old books. Source: click here.
…keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction. To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot get at them.
C.S. Lewis, Introduction to Athanasius, On The Incarnation.
In other words: (i) think about what you read, (ii) read good books, and (iii) read some old books too. All things I would be well to do! What do you think? I hope all these quotes are in the public domain. Sorry if they aren’t please let me know.
