This vice is growing rapidly, and has become so popular that it is scarcely condemned at the present time. The nominal churches are its fortress. Their ministers and members are the readers and writers of much of this great mass of fiction. I was forcibly reminded of these facts by finding a circular announcing “the very best novel of the season,” in a Testament recently purchased at one of the best book—stores in Kansas city. Just think of it! An announcement of novel—reading in God’s Holy Bible which plainly declares that not only the maker of lies, but also those who love them will be left outside the city of God. Rev. 22:15. The world is being drowned by the floods of this light literature, as it is politely called.
On looking over Whitemore’s book circular, giving the names of the monthly issues of over fifty large publishing houses, I find that nearly half the books coming from the press in the United States are novels. Stop and think a moment. All the works written in the interests of science, literature, art, law, medicine, divinity, the hosts of miscellaneous, and school books, together only equal the mass of falsehood now forced upon the world. But this is not all. The circulating libraries of the villages and cities are composed largely of these works, emanating from the “father of lies,” and ten volumes of the vile stuff are read to every one that professes to deal in facts.
What evil does it do ? The same that spirituous liquor does. It makes men, yes, women and children, too, drunk—intellectually drunk. They lose all relish for solid reading, and can no more do without this mental stimulus than the drunkard without his cup. What hope have such of eternal life? They have scarcely time to think about it. With this, as with alcohol, total abstinence is the only remedy. J. Lamont
The Advent Review And Sabbath Herald Nov. 4 1875
God has committed to my care children, not to train for worldly amusement, but for Heaven; and it is my duty to place them in the best possible conditions to understand their duty to God, and to become heirs of immortality. It is impossible for me to be guiltless if I place them in the way of temptation, where there is danger of their being thrown into every class of society, and being corrupted by surrounding influences. There is enough frivolity existing all around us, having a tendency to discourage serious impressions, and to put God out of the mind. Thousands of youth have bid fair to be an honor to their parents, and useful members in society, who have in an evil hour yielded to the Tempter who came in the form of a professed friend, and for the first time broke over the barrier to their conscience and attended the theater, to see and hear the performance of some celebrated actor. Everything fascinates them—their imagination is lively—their senses, their hearts, are carried away captive—they are intoxicated with excitement. They leave the theater; but their imagination continues to dwell upon the scenes they have witnessed, and they are anxious to go again, and again. They acquire a passion to witness theatrical performances. At times they may be convicted that card-playing and attending theaters are not having a beneficial influence upon their health and morals; yet they do not possess sufficient fortitude and independence to tear away from these exciting pleasures. They may strengthen themselves with the thought that physicians have not only attended theaters themselves, but have recommended others to do so, and these physicians were Christians. They thus stifle conscience with the example of worldly, pleasure-loving, professed Christians. They have learned to play cards, considering it an innocent amusement. In attending the theater they place themselves in the most dangerous company, and are exposed to the deceptive, fascinating charms of the gambler, the sensualist, and that class of females “whose steps take hold on hell.” They yield to temptation, and continue their downward course until their consciences become seared, and they will not hesitate to degrade themselves by any vice. RH February 20, 1866, par. 21
Christians are those who follow Christ. “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you.” Tenderness of conscience in regard to these amusements should never be called precision and narrowness of mind. How can Christians call that innocent which is a snare to the soul, which has led thousands in the road to certain ruin? I cannot believe a true follower of Christ will touch a card for amusement, nor read novels, nor attend balls and theaters. If they have learned of Him who is meek and lowly of heart, they will have disrelish for former pleasures and amusements. There will be possessed by the devoted Christian, a living principle in the soul, influencing the mind, employing the affections, and guiding the will, which will give force to the whole character. Their efforts will be to lead souls away from sinful pleasures to the path of holiness, by the bright reflection of their exemplary, blameless lives. RH February 20, 1866, par. 22