This is a reading age; and
as books are cheap, largely read, and easily procurable, the
press has come to embrace a wider circle and to possess a
greater influence on the public mind than any other medium
of communication. The Christian press has spread itself in
all directions, and exercises an influence scarcely inferior
to that of the pulpit. Works, therefore, written by gracious
men, whether living or dead, may be viewed as exercising a
ministry of their own, running, as it were, parallel to that
of the pulpit, and in harmony with it; but possessing the
advantage of penetrating into places, and speaking on
occasions where the voice of the living preacher cannot
come, as well as of being accessible at all times, lying
silently and unobtrusively on the table or the bookshelf,
ready to be taken up or laid down at pleasure; and, if we
have well chosen them, our trustiest friends and wisest
counselors, who will always tell us
the truth without fear and without flattery.
J. C. Philpot, New Years' Address,
1868
