A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Falſe Stories, Romances, and other tempting Books.
5. ANother point of ſenſuality to be denied, is, The reading or hearing of falſe and tempting Books, and thoſe that▪only tend to pleaſe an idle fancy, and not to edifie. Such as are Romances, and other feigned histories of that nature, with Books of tales, and jeſts, and fooliſh complements, with which the world ſo much aboundeth, that there's few but may have admittance to this Library of the Devil. Abundance of old feigned Stories, and new Romances are in the hands, eſpecially of Children, and idle Gentlemen, & filthy luſtful Gallants, or …ty perſons that ſavour not greater matters, but have ſpirits ſutable to ſuch gawds as theſe. But if they were only toyes, I ſhould ſay the leſs; but having ſeen by long obſervation the miſchief of them, I deſire you to note it in theſe few particulars.
1. They enſnare us in a world of guilt, by drawing us to the neglect of thoſe many, thoſe great and neceſſary things that all of us have to mind and ſtudy. O for a man or woman, that is under a load of ſin, unaſſured of pardon and ſalvation, that is near to death, and unready to die, to be ſeen with a ſtory or Romance in their hand! what a groſs incongruity is this? It's fitter the Book of God ſhould be in your hand: It's that which you muſt live by and be judged by. There's much that you are yet ignorant of, which you have more need to be acquainted with than Fables. Are you not ignorant of an hundred truths that you ſhould know, that God hath revealed to further your ſalvation: and can you lay them all by to read Romances? Are you travelling towards another world with a Play-book in your hand? O that you did but know what greater matters you have to mind and to to do? Do all that you have to do firſt, that's of a thouſand times more worth, and weight, and need; and then come to me, and I will anſwer your Objections, What harm is it to read a Play-book? Firſt, Quench the fire of ſin and wrath that is kindled in your ſouls; and ſee that you underſtand the Laws of God, and read over thoſe profitable Treatiſes of Divines, that the world aboundeth with, and your ſouls more need, and then tell me, what mind or time you have for Fables.
2. Moreover it dangerouſly bewitcheth and corrupteth the minds of young and empty people, to read theſe books. Nature doth ſo cloſe with them, and delight in them, that they preſently breed an inordinacy of affection, and ſteal away the heart from God, and his holy Word, and ways. It cannot be that the Love and delights of the heart can be let out on ſuch traſh as theſe, and not be taken off from God and the moſt needful things. That is the moſt dangerous thing to the ſoul, that works it ſelf deepeſt into the affections, and is moſt delighted in inſtead of God. And therefore I may well conclude that Play-books, and Hiſtory-Fables and Romances, and ſuch like, are the very poyſon of youth, the prevention of grace, the fuel of wantonneſs and luſt, and the food and work of empty, vicious, graceleſs perſons; and it's great pity that they be not baniſhed out of the Common-wealth.
3. Moreover they rob men of much precious time, in which much better work might be done: much precious knowledge might be got while they are exerciſed in theſe Fables. Thoſe hours muſt be anſwered for: And there▪ is not the worſt of you but then had rather be able to ſay, [I ſpent thoſe days and hours in prayer, and meditating on the life to come, and reading the Law and Goſpel of Chriſt, and the Books which his Servants wrote for my inſtruction] than to ſay, [I ſpent it in reading Love-books, and Tale-books, and Play-books] All theſe conſidered, I beſeech you throw away theſe peſtilent vanities, and take them not in your hands, nor ſuffer them in the hands of your children, or in your houſes, but burn them as you would do a conjuring-book, & as they did, Acts 19. 19. that ſo they may do no miſchief to any others.