On Eating Books
D. Davies. Revelation 10:8-11 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said… There are many different kinds of books in the world. I. THERE ARE SOME WHICH HAVE NOTHING IN THEM. They are not directly harmful, but neither are they of much good. When you have read them you can scarcely remember anything that they contained. They are very much like a kind of pastry which we call "trifle." The moment you put it into your mouth it vanishes into thin air. Beware of books which only please you for the moment, and do nothing that would make you better or wiser. II. THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS WHICH ARE STUPEFYING. They dull the senses. They are like what we call "opiates," which make men feel heavy and stupid. Be careful never to read books which merely please by soothing and dulling the senses. III. THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS WHICH ARE UNDULY EXCITING. I do not object to a reasonable amount of interest. Every book worth the reading must in one sense excite us; but I am not now speaking of books which excite you by the amount of true knowledge which they give, or noble enthusiasm which they impart, but those which excite you by the feverish curiosity with which they fire you. I earnestly warn you against every book which makes it more difficult for you to do your every-day duty. IV. THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS WHICH ARE VERY HARD TO DIGEST, I have no doubt some of you think, for instance, that books on arithmetic or English grammar are very indigestible; but if you take a little at a time, and masticate that well before you take more, you will find that even hard books will agree with you wonderfully, and that you will be stronger and better for having taken them. Children suffer from indigestion, in learning difficult tasks, by taking too much at a time. The great secret of success is to take a little often, and to see that you learn well every little lesson, and thus make it your own, before you take more. V. THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS WHICH ARE DECIDEDLY POISONOUS. Take care that you do not eat them. These books speak well of sin, and kindly of evil. Beware of any book that does not agree with the Bible in its estimate of good and of evil. VI. And now I want to tell you of this one Book — THE BIBLE — Of which you need never grow weary. (D. Davies.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. WEB: The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land."