Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/14



SPIRITUAL reading  is  now  so  recognised  a  practice  for  all who wish  to  lead  a  devout  life,  that  it  is  hardly  necessary here to  insist  on  its  importance. It is,  however,  well  to  remind  persons  living  in  these  times,  that  the  present  multiplication of  periodical  literature  of  every  kind,  is  an  additional reason  for  being  faithful  to  the  exercise  of  daily spiritual reading. The variety  of  subjects  brought  before the reader,  the  absence  of  deep  thought  or  real  principles, concealed by  an  attractive  and  brilliant  style  of  writing, dissipate the  mind,  and  gradually  destroy,  not  only  the habit, but  even  the  power  of  serious  reflection. We, therefore, who  live  in  times  of  much  reading  and  little  thinking, have the  greater  need  to  spend  some  portion  of  our  day, in reversing  this  process,  in  company  with  some  book, which we  read  slowly,  but  from  which,  we  can  gain  matter for much  after-meditation.

The demand  for  spiritual  reading  for  persons  varying much in  their  capacity,  tastes,  and  the  amount  of  leisure at their  disposal,  justifies  the  multiplication  of  such  books. And it  is  thought  that  the  one  now  offered  to  the  public has special  advantages,  which  will  make  it  prove  a  boon  to many.