"
When the good old Puritan Baxter came to enumerate the valuable
and delightful things of which death would deprive him, his mind
reverted to the pleasures he had derived from books and study.
"When I die," he said, "I must depart, not only from sensual
delights, but from the more manly pleasures of my studies,
knowledge, and converse with many wise and godly men, and from all
my pleasure in reading, hearing, public and private exercises of
religion, and such like. I must leave my library, and turn over
those pleasant books no more. I must no more come among the
living, nor see the faces of my faithful friends, nor be seen of
man; houses, and cities, and fields, and countries, gardens, and
walks, will be as nothing to me. I shall no more hear of the
affairs of the world, of man, or wars, or other news; nor see what
becomes of that beloved interest of wisdom, piety, and peace,
which I desire may prosper."
It is unnecessary to speak of the enormous moral influence which
books have exercised upon the general civilization of mankind,
from the Bible downwards. They contain the treasured knowledge of
the human race. They are the record of all labours, achievements,
speculations, successes, and failures, in science, philosophy,
religion, and morals. They have been the greatest motive powers
in all times. "From the Gospel to the Contrat Social," says De
Bonald, "it is books that have made revolutions.
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