"God be thanked for books; they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages"

In this quote, William Ellery Channing reveals his appreciation for books and their capability to connect us to the remote and the deceased. He sees books as a way to acquire the spiritual knowledge and understanding of previous generations. Through books, we are able to hear the voices of those who have actually come before us and learn from their experiences and insights. Channing acknowledges the worth of books in preserving the tradition of the past and passing it on to future generations. He sees books as a bridge in between the present and the past, permitting us to tap into the spiritual life of previous periods.