"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)



Books may preach . . .
when the author cannot,
when the author may not,
when the author dares not,
yes, and which is more,
when the author is not.
(Thomas Brooks)


"If we can throw any light on the word of truth, if we can enable our readers more clearly to understand, more firmly to believe, and more experimentally to feel the power of what God has revealed in the Scriptures for their instruction, edification, and consolation, that will be our chief reward, as, we hope, it is our chief aim." (J. C. Philpot)


We have often thought that if the children of God who are blessed with time and opportunity, instead of galloping over the flimsy religious productions of the present day, would set themselves prayerfully and carefully to read these old sovereign grace authors, they would, with God's blessing, derive a benefit from them, that would amply repay them. We can say for ourselves that when favored with a spiritual frame, we have rarely taken up any of these authors without finding some instruction, or edification, or reproof, or something to do our soul good, and draw it up to heavenly things. (J. C. Philpot)

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon