W.G.T. Shedd on Promoting Congregational Reading

W.G.T. Shedd encourages pastors to promote serious reading in their congregations:

“The studious, thoughtful Christian is always more unworldly and sincere, than the Christian who reads but little and thinks still less. The pastor can employ no means more certain to sanctify his flock, than reading and reflection, upon their part. Just in proportion as he is able to induce the habit of studying the Scriptures, and of perusing doctrinal and religious books, will he spiritualize the church to which he ministers.”

– William G.T. Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology. 11th ed. (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902), 326.