This is an old-fashioned way of imparting instruction, both to high
and low. It was in use, for instance, as early as the first days of
the Reformation, when some faithful Christians of Picardy, in France,
assembled together to read the Holy Scriptures, on which account they
were exposed to persecution, death, and above all, to be burnt alive.
These true disciples of the Lord Jesus composed and distributed,
with considerable difficulty, some little pamphlets, in which were
taught the doctrines of salvation by Christ alone, and in a form
which enabled the poor and ignorant to read and understand; for it
was impossible for them at that time to procure a Bible, which was
not only a scarce book, but cost a large sum of money: indeed, almost
as much as a thousand Bibles would cost in the present day, and
which, besides, they could not carry home and read quietly to
themselves, as they were able to do with a simple tract.
At a later period, and chiefly for the last fifty years, this method
has been adopted in almost all countries where true Christian
churches and societies have been established; and even now, millions
of these tracts, adapted to all ages and conditions of men, are
published and distributed every year.
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