Helpful Books

Other books I have read that I consider to have been helpful are the Little House books. Regarded by some as "fiction," they are actually closely related to actual events, and the values taught in these books are endless. I especially enjoyed reading in "Farmer Boy" about Almanzo's efforts to train animals and the great patience it required. In "The First Four Years" you see how long you might have to persevere before a venture is successful. Each book takes place in a different location, each one supposedly better in some way than the previous. But whenever you move, you leave something behind, including some things that you will never find again. You hope that you are making some gain each time, but really it's no gain, it's just different, and what is required of you at the time.

A very helpful sermon is "A Memorial of the Deliverance of Essex County" by John Owen. The title is unfortunate. I would simple call it "Songs on Shigionoth." The first few pages are the best. I don't know if I ever got as far as Observation XXI, but I've read the first part several times. To read the whole thing in one or two sittings would be too much, but it's all good.

Just the other day I got considerable help from the second part of Pilgrim's Progress. I have never really cared for that book, but this time I found some applicable portions. When I first read the book, when I was quite young, I was completely confused by the fact that some of the characters that Pilgrim met, who traveled on the same road with him, seemed not to be Christians at all. Since they were on the same road, I assumed that they had come through the wicket gate, but I missed the fact that some of them had climbed over the wall. I should probably re-read it sometime and see if I can get it all straight this time, but it's hard to get interested. I do better just to read it in bits and pieces.