The Value of Good Books

IT is hardly necessary to say, by way of preface, that when we use the phrase “good books” without further qualification, we mean books that are good in the highest sense, such as are religious, and not secular, in character. It is to the salutary influence of these upon the human mind and conduct that we desire to direct attention for a little.

The value of good books is not to be estimated by their commercial price. In the present age the best of them may be obtained exceedingly cheap, while many literary productions that are not worth buying cannot be had except for a considerable sum. The value of good books is to be reckoned according to the amount of moral and spiritual benefit they are fitted to convey to the understanding, heart and life of men. To affirm that they are in this respect extremely valuable is to make a statement that everyone who has any respect for religion will at once agree with. At the same time, if the doctrine on this point, as on others, is to be judged by the practice, we shall have difficulty in concluding whether many who profess a reverence for divine things really attach any value to good books at all. If they have them, they seldom read them; if they have them not, they are at little pains or expense to procure them. This state of matters is to be deplored, for a good book is a more valuable possession than most are aware of. By the blessing of God, the priceless treasure of eternal life may be found in it.

As there is no end of religious books in the world which are far from good, it may be useful to show how a good book may be known, and what tests can be applied to decide the matter. The grand fundamental test is, of course, Does the book agree in its statements with the teaching of Holy Scripture? The Bible is the book of books, the divine, infallible standard of truth. The best books are therefore those which are in closest harmony with this unerring standard. On the other hand, no book, however intellectual in conception, or however finished in literary form, is truly good if its teachings are contrary to or not in harmony with God’s Word. All the skill lavished on it only makes it a more powerful instrument for the propagation of error. Intellectual cleverness and literary grace do not in any way prove a book to be good in the noblest sense. Every religious book must, therefore, be brought to the touchstone of the Bible and tried by it. This is an infallible test, and every piece of religious literature must stand or fall by its decision. Seeing, however, there are many erroneous authors who claim that they find their views in the Bible, we would submit a further test that is quite in harmony with the former one. It is as follows:—Is the book in agreement with the Calvinistic Reformed Faith? If it is, you may be confident that it is good in the main. The Creeds of the Reformation, we believe, are the nearest approaches we have got to infallible expositions of God’s truth. We do not affirm, however, that all Calvinistic books are free from error, or all Arminian ones entirely devoid of truth. But we do undertake to assert that truth largely preponderates in the former, while error is rampant in the latter. The vast majority of the best writers, ancient and modern, belong to the class of which John Calvin may be regarded as the central figure. The great Calvinistic writers are of world-wide celebrity among lovers of truth; and while we do not claim perfection for any one of them, yet we hold that, taking them all in all in their various fields, we can find no Arminians that are to be named in the same day with them. It may, therefore, be laid down as a handy general rule that that book merits the title good which is in harmony with the faith of which those eminent men have been the defenders and expositors, and which is so accurately set forth in the Creeds of the Reformation.

Let us now proceed to notice some of the benefits that may be derived from good books.

Benefits of Good Books

1. The first benefit to be mentioned is this: they supply a profitable way of employing spare time. Most persons have seasons of relaxation from the ordinary duties of life. At such times the mind needs something to direct its thoughts into a profitable channel, for it is apt to wander away to things that are foolish and hurtful. There is, then, no better way of profitably occupying one’s thoughts than to take up some good book or other. This can be done by the reader whether at home or on a journey. Things may thus be learnt that may prove useful on other occasions. In summer, the time of freedom, the bee lays up stores of honey for the winter. Reading good books is an excellent way of spending periods of relaxation.

2. They extend knowledge. Man is an intelligent creature, and his understanding was given him not for waste, but for use. The world of books opens up a great field for the exercise of his mental powers. Diligent readers acquire an extensive knowledge of truth and error, of men and things, of God and His works. They become familiar with the Divine scheme of redemption, and can detect departures from it; they are capable of taking an enlarged view of the character and experience of men; and in respect of the Church’s history they become acquainted with the Lord’s doings throughout the world. Thus their minds are expanded beyond limited and local views of things that may pertain to their own special corner of the vineyard; and they become large minded and large hearted, in the best sense, if the things they read are attended with a Divine blessing. Knowledge is an attribute of God; in knowledge as part of His image, He created man at the beginning, so that ignorance in any form—except that of evil-doing—is unworthy of a creature possessing such a high origin. Let knowledge of truth and righteousness be then cultivated to the full.

3. They elevate character. We refer not as yet to conversion, but to the ennobling influence which wholesome literature has even on natural men. It is possible, we know, to over-estimate moral attainments; many substitute them for vital godliness; but it is possible, on the other hand, to undervalue them. It is most desirable not to be guilty of this, for it is a great boon to a community when its members are strictly chaste, upright, and honourable in their lives, strong in all the natural virtues. We would consider our country a semi-paradise if all its inhabitants bore this character. Now, the reading of good books tends to the formation of lofty principles. We know that natural men cannot have any real liking for books of a purely spiritual cast, and may find it very difficult to read them; but there are good books in history and biography that they should find it comparatively easy to read and study. Young people should very specially be exhorted and encouraged to read such books. Parents should not give too much place to their children’s tastes in this matter. There is no doubt a wise discretion to be observed. Extreme coercive measures may only end in disastrous results. But, on the other hand, a lax compliance with carnal preferences is also injurious. It has been observed that a little gentle firmness may lead young people into the reading of books that they would at first recoil from. Besides, it should be remembered that it is those thoughts and ideas—such as are associated with the law in its holiness and the Gospel in its spirituality—which the carnal mind most disrelishes, that are most fitted to exert a powerful influence for good. We believe the people of this country have derived incalculable moral benefit from the reading of literature which in their heart of hearts they had no real love for. The very thoughts of God and eternity, that did not kindle any loving response in their souls, exerted a restraining and directing influence on their life and conduct. A famous worthy in the North, Alexander Gair, when asking for the Bible at family worship, used sometimes to say—”Give us the Book we don’t like.” The divine Book and other books “we don’t like” have done many people more good than they will ever realise. But for such literature we would have been in the darkness of the grossest heathenism to-day.

4. By the blessing of God they sometimes produce conversion. This circumstance has been noted in the spiritual history of godly men. Books have been used by God for the awakening and conversion of souls. The biographies of eminent Christians have been much blessed. We cannot commend too highly the reading of these books. There is something in them that is fitted to attract even the most careless and unconcerned, and that something may prove the bait whereby the Divine Fisher effectually hooks the fish and brings it to land. The reader is led on from one stage to another in his reading the biography by its peculiar attractiveness, the less spiritual part carrying him into the more spiritual; and he is thus constrained to reflect upon what he otherwise might never consider. The hook of divine truth, at the most unexpected moment, penetrates his soul, and he is brought to put the question, “What must I do to be saved?” In a good book he also may get the deliverance that he requires, and find himself safely landed by the Spirit of God on the Rock, Christ. In these remarks we are not to be understood as implying that it is the sentiments of men in any book that produce these marvellous results; but rather the word of God, the truth as it is in Jesus. How useful have proved such books as Boston’s Fourfold State, Bunyan’s Grace Abounding, Fraser of Brea’s Memoirs, and Scott’s Force of Truth, among many others, in connection with the production of spiritual experience in the souls of sinners!

5. Lastly, they promote spiritual edification. This statement is a mere common place of Christian experience. The Bible is the divine book which is the very seed and sustenance of the life of God in the gracious soul. But God has been pleased to use other books also for the comfort and edification of His people, books that have derived their origin and vitality from His own Word as the grand repository of divine truth. He has been pleased in all ages to make use of human instruments in the advancement of His kingdom in the souls of men. He sent apostles and prophets to declare and record His truth; and He makes use of the writings of His ambassadors and preachers still for the instruction and encouragement of His children. The latter are not of equal authority or value with the inspired Word, but they are useful as expositions of it in doctrine and experience. No one can tell how often distressed and afflicted souls have been enlightened and comforted by reading the words of some godly divine. They have got light for the path of duty; they have obtained comfort in trouble; they have tasted divine pardon in their consciences through the blood of Christ; and they have enjoyed some sweet moments of fellowship with God the Father, through the Son, and by the Holy Ghost.

Let us be diligent readers and students of all that is sound and good in religious literature, and let us seek, above all, the divine blessing that can make our reading profitable, not only for time, but for eternity.