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Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
children who have been allowed to make a practice of reading such
stories. Whether at home or abroad, they were restless, dreamy,
unable to converse except upon the most commonplace subjects.
Religious thought and conversation was entirely foreign to their
minds. With the cultivation of an appetite for sensational stories,
the mental taste is perverted, and the mind is not satisfied unless
fed upon this unwholesome food. I can think of no more fitting
name for those who indulge in such reading than mental inebriates.
Intemperate habits of reading have an effect upon the brain similar
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to that which intemperate habits of eating and drinking have upon
the body.
Those who indulge the habit of racing through an exciting story
are simply crippling their mental strength and disqualifying their
minds for vigorous thought and research. Some youth, and even
some of mature age, have been afflicted with paralysis from no other
cause than excess in reading. The nerve power of the brain was kept
constantly excited, until the delicate machinery became worn and
refused to act. Some of its fine mechanism gave way, and paralysis
was the result.
There are men and women now in the decline of life who have
never recovered from the effects of intemperance in reading. The
habit formed in early years grew with their growth and strengthened
with their strength. Their determined efforts to overcome the sin of
abusing the intellect were partially successful, but they have never
recovered the full vigor of mind that God bestowed upon them.
Infidel Authors
Another source of danger against which we should be constantly
on guard is the reading of infidel authors. Such works are inspired
by the enemy of truth, and no one can read them without imperiling
the soul. It is true that some who are affected by them may finally
recover; but all who tamper with their evil influence place themselves
on Satan’s ground, and he makes the most of his advantage. As they
invite his temptations they have not wisdom to discern or strength
to resist them. With a fascinating, bewitching power, unbelief and
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infidelity fasten themselves upon the mind.