The love of books (and the desire for the acquisition of more) is no new phenomenon among pastors. William Symington, a 19th century pastor wrote,
The love of books is with me a perfect mania. When I see anything particularly advertised, I immediately conceive a wish to have it — I persuade myself that really I ought to have it — and between the desire to have it and the reluctance to pay for it I am on the fidgets day and night. Then some demon or other whispers, ‘Your credit is good, it is a good while to the month of May, before then you will have had your purse replenished with next half year’s stipend — the temptation succeeds; and off goes a post letter for the desired article, all objections, financial as well as others, being unceremoniously sent about their business. In this way I have nearly ruined myself — and the worst of it is that I am nearly incorrigible. Unlike other sinners, misery does not lead me to repent — or if I do repent, I do not at all events reform. Can you tell me what is to become of me? The jail I suppose.
This is not to give excuse to the sin of indiscriminate and foolish spending. It is to draw some measure of comfort that others have faced a like temptation!
(HT: Nathan Eshelman)
[And I’m not sure how large his library was, but I believe that Spurgeon may have faced a similar temptation (I also appreciate the “pile” filing system):]
Words of Grace 