Literature for Adventist Homes
325
Skepticism and infidelity are increasing everywhere. Light so precious,
coming from the throne of God, is hid under a bushel. God will make
His people responsible for this neglect. An account must be rendered to
Him for every ray of light He has let shine upon our pathway, whether
it has been improved to our advancement in divine things or rejected
because it was more agreeable to follow inclination.—
Testimonies for
the Church 4:390, 391
.
Review and the Signs—Many Sabbathkeepers neglect to take the
Review, and some have neither the Review nor the Signs. They plead
as an excuse that they cannot afford to take these papers which it is
so important for them to have. But in many cases several secular
papers will be found upon their tables for their children to peruse. The
influence of most of the periodicals of the day is such as to render
the word of God distasteful, and to destroy a relish for all useful and
instructive reading. The mind assimilates to that which it feeds upon.
The secular papers are filled with accounts of murders, robberies and
other revolting crimes, and the mind of the reader dwells on the scenes
of vice therein depicted. By indulgence, the reading of sensational or
demoralizing literature becomes a habit, like the use of opium or other
baleful drugs, and as a result, the minds of thousands are enfeebled,
debased, and even crazed. Satan is doing more through the productions
of the press to weaken the minds and corrupt the morals of the youth
than by any other means.
[377]
Let all reading of this character be banished from your houses,
let books that are useful, instructive and elevating, be placed in your
libraries and upon your tables, with the Review and Herald, our church
paper, and the Signs of the Times, our missionary paper, and the effect
upon both parents and children will be good. During these long winter
evenings, let parents see that all their children are at home, and then
let the time be devoted to the reading of the Scriptures and other inter-
esting books that will impart knowledge and inculcate right principles.
Let the best reader be selected to read aloud while other members of
the family are engaged in useful occupations. Thus these evenings
at home may be made both pleasant and profitable. Pure healthful
reading will be to the mind what healthful food is to the body. You
will thus become stronger to resist temptation, to form right habits,
and to act upon right principles.—
The Review and Herald, December
26, 1882
.