There is considerable harm done by the reading of certain religious books, especially those written with a view to propagating some strange doctrine. No man, for instance, who is not well grounded in the word of God, should read a book setting forth Mormon beliefs, or "Millennial Dawn," or Seventh-Day Adventism, or Roman Catholic propaganda. In the first place, you are under no obligation to do so. Secondly, it is dangerous. Any skillful handler of words can make a very plausible argument on any side of any question that could be imagined, and especially if he has his heart set on it. By the craftiness and subtlety of men simple-minded Christians are often led away into error; and, strange to say, the more absurd and outrageous the error, the more fascinating becomes it when a man is once under its spell. We have the word of God, and no limit placed on it. Let us follow the voice of the Shepherd and flee from the voice of strangers. We can accept a Bible truth, to be sure, no matter what the stripe of believer or unbeliever by whom it may be pointed out; for a Christian has a right to all the truth, and need never turn into any kind of sectarian in order to accept any portion or phase of it. The ground of all true union, God's word, comprises all truth. But to delve into the writings of divers and strange religionists in search of truth is worse than a waste of time. [49]

[TAG 49]