“Young men, I charge you to make a habit of reading the Bible, and not to let the habit be broken. Let not the laughter of companions, let not the bad customs of the family you may live in,—let none of these things prevent your doing it. Determine that you will not only have a Bible, but also make time to read it too. Suffer no man to persuade you that it is only a book for Sunday school children and old women. It is the book from which King David got wisdom and understanding. It is the book which young Timothy knew from his childhood. Never be ashamed of reading it. Do not “despise the Word” (Prov. 13:13).
Young men, give the Bible the honour due to it every day you live. Whatever you read, read that first. And beware of bad books: there are plenty in this day. Take heed what you read. I suspect there is more harm done to souls in this way than most people have an idea is possible. Value all books in proportion as they are agreeable to Scripture. Those that are nearest to it are the best, and those that are farthest from it, and most contrary to it, the worst.”
JC Ryle
“Value all books in proportion as they are agreeable to Scripture. Those that are nearest to it are the best, and those that are farthest from it, and most contrary to it, the worst.”
Love these sentences. Over the last few days I have observed some friends reading some ‘Spiritual formation’ type books that seem to depart quite a bit from the witness of Scripture. These obscure books that give us plenty to ‘do’ and ‘contemplate’ are understood to be easier to handle than the plain teachings of the Word. As Gareth McFadden would say we need to ‘Man up’.
ha! indeed……