Prayer purifies us, reading instructs us. Both are good when possible...
If a man wants to be always in God's company, he must pray regularly and read regularly. When we pray we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us.
All spiritual growth comes from reading and reflection. By reading we learn what we did not know; by reflection, we retain what we have learned.
Reading the holy scriptures confers two benefits. It trains the mind to understand them; it turns man's attention from the follies of the world and leads him to love of God.
Learning unsupported by grace may get into our ears; it never reaches the heart. It makes a great noise outside but serves no inner purpose. But, when God's grace touches our innermost minds to bring understanding, his word which has been received by the ear sinks deep into the heart.
