Morning Star

Good Reading.

There are various means of improvement, as observation, study, conversation, reading and labor for the good of others, each having its peculiar advantages, though mutual helps of each other. Of these, reading is one of the most important, and has so many advantages, especially at the present day, that no one who would be intelligent and useful should neglect it. He might almost as well return to the dark ages, or become a hermit. But the world is full of books, many of which are worthless or of pernicious tendency, and life is too precious to be wasted. It is of great consequence therefore that there be a just discrimination and selection in our reading.

We have before given our reasons for discarding entirely one very large class of literary productions, viz: works of fiction. Our present purpose is to recommend some that we believe to be worthy the attention of all. We begin with the Bible—the Book, so called by way of eminence, because the best of books. Infinitely better for mankind to have the Sacred volume and no other book, than all other books without it. The Bible should stand first in every library; and that man, whatever his pretensions, suffers a great loss who does not make the Bible his first book in reading, meditation, and practice. If some sneer at such a remark, it is from ignorance or vice. The greatest minds in every age have most prized it. The Scriptures have done more for human improvement—for enlightening the mind, reforming the morals, cultivating the taste, and correcting the sentiments, than any other book—yes, more than all other books put together. Christendom owes its present elevation in science and art above the heathen world mainly to the Bible. Such facts are enough to settle every question on this subject with candid men.

Next to the Bible we would place a good religious newspaper. Some may be disposed to smile at such a classification, but we make it deliberately. Could we put but two publications in the hands of any community, family, or individual, they should be the Bible and a religious newspaper. A well conducted paper keeps us informed of the present state of the world, and of the subjects most deserving attention. To a family its value is beyond expression, and they had better make almost any other sacrifice than be without one. The children may be easily interested in it, and this done they are provided with one of the surest and most lasting sources of improvement.

Another class of good reading is composed of helps to devotion, and books enforcing the claims of religion. Among the best of these are the works of Bunyan, Baxter, Flavel, Doddridge, and Pike. The Evangelical Family Library is an excellent collection, and may be safely commended to all.

Another class may be styled helps to the better understanding of the Scriptures. It is to be regretted that so few of this class can be regarded as unexceptionable. There are many commentaries of great merits in some respects, but they have also great defects. Some of them are not suited to this age and country. Others are sectarian, and in numerous instances pervert instead of explaining Scripture. A well written, impartial commentary, adapted to existing wants, is greatly needed. The absence of such must be supplied as each one best can. For ordinary purposes Doddridge's Family Expositor and Barnes' Notes are as good as any. The Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Union Bible Dictionary, and Horne's Introduction are works of great value.

Again, books designed to illustrate the sciences, with practical application of the truths brought to view. It is subject of regret that there are so few. Science has been treated too abstractly. There has been too much effort to keep it separate from religion, and indeed from almost every practical purpose. This is all wrong. Every science may be so illustrated and applied as to produce salutary and moral impressions, and thereby greatly increase its interest and usefulness. In the class of writings here approved the works of Thomas Dick stand pre-eminent. There is a growing tendency in scientific writers to render their works more practical, and we trust the wants of the public in this respect will ere long be met.

We might enumerate various works of biography, history, and poetry; but we have neither time nor room now to be specific enough to subserve any valuable purpose, though each of these departments might well furnish matter for an essay. In closing these remarks we would not omit to mention the publications of the F. W. Baptist Printing Establishment. This is not done from partisan bias, but from honest conviction. Taken as a whole it may be fairly affirmed that these publications are as good, and afforded on as reasonable terms, as any class of works before the public. The patronage they have already received from various quarters speaks much in their favor. But they ought to have a much greater circulation, especially in our connexion. One of our greatest obstacles to improvement and usefulness as a people arises from the lack of good reading among us.

J. J. B.