Quotes (228)

There are very few errors and false doctrines of which the beginning may not be traced up to unsound views about the corruption of human nature. Wrong views of a disease will always bring with them wrong views of a remedy. Wrong views of the corruption of human nature will always carry with them wrong views of the grand antidote and cure for the corruption.

- J. C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (219)

I admit fully that man has many grand and noble faculties left about him, and that in arts and sciences and literature he shows immense capacity. But the fact still remains that in spiritual things he is utterly “dead,” and has no natural knowledge, or love or fear of God.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (214)

The fairest babe that has entered life this year, and become the sunbeam of a family, is not, as its mother perhaps fondly calls it, a little “angel,” or a little “innocent,” but a “sinner.” Alas! as it lies smiling and crowing in its cradle, that little creature carries in its heart the seeds of every kind of wickedness! Only watch it carefully, as it grows in stature and its mind develops, and you will soon detect in it an incessant tendency to that which is bad, and a backwardness to that which is good. You will see in it the buds and germs of deceit, evil temper, selfishness, self-will, obstinacy, greediness, envy, jealousy, passion–which, if indulged and let alone, will shoot up with painful rapidity. Who taught the child these things? Where did he learn them? The Bible alone can answer these questions! Of all the foolish things parents say about their children, there is non worse than the common saying, “My son has a good heart at the bottom.” . . . The truth, unhappily, is diametrically the other way. The first cause of all sin lies in the natural corruption of the boy’s own heart . . . .

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (207)

Beware of letting small faults pass unnoticed under the idea it is a little one. There are no little things in training children; all are important. Little weeds need plucking up as much as any. Leaven them alone and they will soon be great.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (203)

Instruction and advice and commands will profit little, unless they are backed up by the pattern of your own life. Your children will never believe you are in earnest, and really wish them to obey you, so long as your actions contradict your counsel. Archbishop Tillotson made a wise remark when he said, “To give children good instruction, and a bad example, is but beckoning to them with the head to show them the way to Heaven, while we take them by the hand and lead them in the way to Hell.”

- J. C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (194)

Thousands [of professing Christians] will crowd to hear a new voice and a new doctrine, without considering for a moment whether what they hear is true. There is an incessant craving after any teaching which is sensational, and exciting, and rousing to the feelings. There is an unhealthy appetite for a sort of spasmodic and hysterical Christianity. The religious life of many is little better than spiritual dram-drinking, and the “meek and quiet spirit” which St. Peter commends is clean forgotten (1 Pet. 3:4). Crowds, and crying, and hot rooms, and high-flown singing, and an incessant rousing of the emotions are the only things which many care for. Inability to distinguish differences in doctrine is spreading far and wide, and so long as the preacher is “clever” and “earnest,” hundreds seem to think it must be all right, and call you dreadfully “narrow and uncharitable” if you hint that he is unsound!

- J. C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (188)

  There is much in the attitude of professing Christians in this day which fills me with concern, and makes me full of fear for the future. There is an amazing ignorance of Scripture among many, and a consequent want of established, solid religion. In no other way can I account for the ease with which people are, like children, “tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (185)

   True holiness, we surely ought to remember, does not consist merely of inward sensations and impressions. It is much more than tears, and sighs, and bodily excitement, and a quickened pulse, and a passionate feeling of attachment to our own favorite preachers and our own religious party, and a readiness to quarrel with everyone who does not agree with us. It is something of “the image of Christ,” which can be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings (Rom. 8:29).

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (181)

When people talk of having received “such a blessing,” and of having found “the higher life,” after hearing some earnest advocate of “holiness by faith and self-consecration,” while their families and friends see no improvement and no increased sanctity in their daily tempers and behavior, immense harm is done to the cause of Christ.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (178)

It is thoroughly scriptural and right to say , “Faith alone justifies.” But it is not equally scriptural and right to say, “Faith alone sanctifies.”

- J. C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (170)

Let it not be said of you at last, as it is of many, that your “youth was a disorder, your manhood a struggle, and your old age a regret.”

- J. C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (165)

Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed on a mountain; Isaac prayed in the fields; Hezekiah turned his face to the wall as he lay upon his bed; Daniel prayed by the riverside; Peter, the Apostle, on the housetop. I have heard of young men praying in stables and haylofts. All that I contend for is this, you must know what it is to”go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6). There must be stated times when you must speak to God face to face, you must every day have your times for prayer–You must pray.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (161)

Few indeed are to be found who pray: there are many who go down on their knees, and say a form perhaps, but few who pray; few who cry out to God, few who call on the Lord, few who seek as if they wanted to find, few who knock as if they hungered and thirsted, few who wrestle, few who strive with God earnestly for an answer, few who give Him no rest, few who continue in prayer, few who pray always without ceasing and do not grow weak. Yes, few pray! It is just one of the things assumed which is everybody’s business, but in fact hardly anybody performs.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (148)

Satan will try hard to fill your minds with arguments against the practices of Christianity. He will draw your attention to the numbers of persons who use them and are no better for the using. “See there,” he will whisper, “do you not observe that those who go to church are no better than those who stay away?” But do not let this move you. It is never fair to argue against a thing because it is improperly used. It does not follow that the practices of Christianity can do no good because many do them and get no good from them. . . . The value of the practices of Christianity, like other things, depends, in a great measure, on the manner and spirit in which we use them.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (123)

   If you think the mere carrying of your body to a certain building, at certain times, on a certain day in the week, will make you a Christian and prepare you to meet God, I tell you flatly you are miserably deceived.

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Book review: Holiness by J.C. Ryle.

I recently completed reading this powerhouse book Holiness by John Charles Ryle. This is one of those books that every Christian should have on their bookshelf next to their Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress.

This book is a collection of Ryle’s sermons and he conveys his messages clearly and bluntly. He’s very direct and pulls no punches when it comes to sound doctrine and defending the faith (many times from the heretical errors and influences of the Roman Catholic Church). Ryle’s contention throughout the book is that holiness should be one of the major components of a Christian’s life.

It’s very hard to find a good, biblically sound book that was written within the last century. They are out there, but are not so common. (Error and compromise is pervasive in our time). Many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you want good, solid teaching you have to read books from the 19th century or earlier. This book is one of those shining examples that lends support to my theory.

I firmly believe that if more Christians read books like this instead of the junk they read today (and the copious amounts of television to boot) they’d have a greater growth in their walk. And if more pastors preached like this, their church numbers might become smaller, but they would be making an actual impact on the world.

Quotes (118)

Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing that you would not like God to hear. Write nothing that you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, “Show it to Me.” Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, “What are you doing?”

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (114)

How many things are done continually, which men would never do if they thought they were seen! How many matters are transacted in the rooms of imagination, which would never bear the light of day! Yes, men entertain thoughts in private, and say words in private, and do acts in private, which they would be ashamed of and blush to have them exposed before the world. The sound of a footstep coming has stopped many a deed of wickedness. A knock at the door has caused many an evil to be hastily suspended, and hurriedly laid aside. But oh, what miserable folly is all this! There is an all-seeing Witness with us wherever we go. Lock the door, pull down the blind, turn out the light; it doesn’t matter, it makes no difference; God is everywhere, you cannot shut Him out, or prevent His seeing.

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (112)

What is the use of praying, “Lord keep me from temptation,” unless you are careful not to run into it and “keep me from evil,” unless you show a desire to keep out of its way?
-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (110)

Endeavor, as much as you can, to keep clear of everything which may prove injurious to your soul. People may say you are too conscientious, too particular, and ask where is the great harm of such and such things? But don’t listen to them. It is dangerous to play tricks with sharp tools: it is far more dangerous to take liberties with your immortal soul.

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (100)

    Shall we say that we have done our duty to God? Shall we say that we have done our duty to our neighbor? Shall we bring forward our prayers?—our regularity?—our amendments?—our churchgoing?—Shall we ask to be accepted because of any of these? Which of these things will stand the searching inspection of God’s eye? Which of them will actually justify us? Which of them will carry us clear through judgment, and land us safe in glory?

None, none, none! Take any commandment of the ten, and let us examine ourselves by it. We have broken it repeatedly. We cannot answer God one of a thousand. Take any of us and look narrowly into our ways—and we are nothing but sinners. There is but one verdict: we are all guilty—all deserve hell—all ought to die. Where-with can we come before God?

We must come in the name of Jesus, standing on no other ground, pleading no other plea than this: “Christ died on the cross for the ungodly, and I trust in Him. Christ died for me, and I believe on Him.”

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

 

Quotes (97)

   There are two ways of coming down from the top of a ladder; one is to jump down, and the other is to come down by the steps: but both will lead you to the bottom. So also there are two ways of going to Hell; one is to walk into it with your eyes open–few people do that; the other is to go down by the steps of little sins–and that way, I fear, is only too common. Put up with a few little sins, and you will soon want a few more. . . . Jeremy Taylor very clearly described the progress of sin in a man: “First it startles him, then it becomes pleasing, then easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then a way of life! Then the man feels no guilt, then obstinate, then resolves never to repent, and then he is damned.”

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (86)

Keep company with an unsaved man, and it is more probable you will, in the end, become like him. That is the general consequence of all such friendships. The good go down to the bad, and the bad do not come up to the good. The world’s proverb is only too correct: “Clothes and company tell true tales about character.” “Show me who a man lives with and I will show you what he is.” . . . But depend on it, bad company in this life is the sure way to procure worse company in the life to come.

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (81)

  There is much in the attitude of professing Christians in this day which fills me with concern, and makes me full of fear for the future.

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (74)

I dwell on these things more because this is an age of reading. There seems no end to the producing of many books, though few of them are really profitable. There seems a rage for cheap printing and publishing. Newspapers of every sort abound, and the tone of some, which have the widest circulation, speaks badly for the taste of the age. Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master’s book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul. Do not let newspapers, novels, and romances be read, while the prophets and Apostles be despised. Do not let the exciting and sensual swallow up your attention, while the edifying and sanctifying can find no place in your mind. Young men, give the Bible the honor due to it every day you live. Whatever you read, read that first. And beware of bad books: there are plenty in this day. Take heed what you read. . . . Value all books in proportion as they are agreeable to Scripture. Those that are nearest to it are the best, and those that are farthest from it, and most contrary to it, the worst.

-J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (68)

   Be very sure that every doctrine which will not stand the test of Scripture is false. This will keep you from being tossed to and fro, and carried about by the dangerous opinions of these latter days. Be very sure that every practice in your life which is contrary to Scripture is sinful and must be given up. . . . And read it regularly. This is the only way to become “mighty in the Scriptures.” A quick glance at the Bible now and then does little good. At that rate you will never become familiar with its treasure or feel the sword of the Spirit fitted to your hand in the hour of conflict.

1816 - 1900

Quotes (64)

No place, no employment is good for you, which injures your soul. No friend, no companion deserves your confidence, who makes light of your soul’s concerns. The man who hurts you, your property, your character only does you temporary harm. Your true enemy is the one who plots to damage your soul.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (62)

   He knows your trials and your temptations, your difficulties and your foes. In the days of His flesh He was like you–a young man at Nazareth. He knows by experience a young man’s mind. He can understand the feeling of your temptations–because He himself suffered when He was tempted. Surely you will be without excuse if you turn away from such a Savior and Friend as this.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (60)

   It is in Christ alone that all these things are to be found–grace, peace, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It is just in proportion as we live upon Him, that we are strong Christians. It is only when self is nothing and Christ is all our confidence, it is only then that we shall do great exploits.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (57)

   A watch that does not keep time is as useless as a religion without Christ. But don’t let me be misunderstood. It is not the mere knowing of Christ’s name that I mean, it is the knowing of His mercy, grace, and power, the knowing of Him not by the hearing of the ear, but by the experience of your hearts.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (51)

  Young men, be of good courage. Don’t worry what the world says or thinks: you will not always be with the world. Can man save your soul? No. Will man be your judge in the great and dreadful day of judgment? No. Can man give you a good conscience in this life, a good hope in death, a good answer in the morning of resurrection? No! No! No! Man can do nothing of the sort. Then “Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool” (Isaiah 51:7-8).

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (49)

   Consider how unreasonable this fear of man is. How short lived is man’s hosility, and how little harm he can do! “Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth?” (Isaiah 51:12-13). And how thankless is this fear! No one will really think better of you for it. The world always respects those the most who act boldly for God. Oh, break these bonds, and cast these chains from you! Never be ashamed of letting men see that you want to go to Heaven. Do not think it a disgrace to show that you are a servant of God. Never be afraid of doing what is right.  

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (47)

 

 

The thought, “What will my friends say or think of me?” nips many good inclination in the bud. The fear of being looked at, laughed at, ridiculed, prevents many a good habit from being taken up. There are Bibles that would be read this very day, if the owners dared. They know they ought to read them, but they are afraid: “What will people say?” There are knees that would be bent in prayer this very night, but the fear of man forbids it: “What would my wife, my brother, my friend, my companion say, if they saw me praying?” Oh, what wretched slavery this is and yet how common!

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (45)

  

Men question the truth of Christianity because they hate the practice of it.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (44)

   People never reject the Bible because they cannot understand it. They understand it too well; they understand that it condemns their own behavior; they understand that it witnesses against their own sins, and summons them to judgment. They try to believe it is false and useless, because they don’t like to believe it is true. An evil lifestyle must always raise an objection to this book. 

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (43)

   Men may tell you that there are difficulties in the Bible, things hard to understand. It would not be God’s book if there were not. And what if there are? You don’t despise medicines because you cannot explain all that your doctor does with them. But whatever men may say, the things needed for salvation are as clear as daylight. 

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (41)

   Young men, “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:1 if you love life. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 5:6). Flee from the opportunity of it–from the company of those who might draw you into it–from the places where you might be tempted to do it. . . . Flee from talking about it. It is one of the things that ought not even be hinted about in conversation. You cannot even touch black grease without getting your hands dirty. Flee from the thoughts of it; resist them, destroy them, pray against them–make any sacrifice rather than give way to them. Imagination is the hotbed where this sin is too often hatched. Guard your thoughts, and there will be little fear about your actions. 

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (38)

 

 

The violation of the seventh commandment is the sin above all others, that, as Hosea says, “takes away the understanding” (Hosea 4:11). It is the sin that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any other sin that a man can commit. It is a sin that destroys thousands of young men in every age, and has even overthrown a few of the saints of God in the past. Samson and David are fearful proofs. It is the sin that a man dares to smile at, and smooths over using the terms: thrills, love, uncontrollable passions, and natural desires. But it is the sin that the devil rejoices over, for he is the “unclean spirit;” and it is the sin that God abhors, and declares He “will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (37)

I will not shrink from warning all young men to remember the seventh commandment; to beware of adultery and sexual immorality, of all impurity of every kind. I fear that we don’t very often speak on this part of God’s law. But when I see how prophets and Apostles have dealt with this subject, when I observe the open way in which the Reformers of our own Church denounced it . . . I for one cannot, with good conscience, hold my peace. The world becomes more wicked because of our failure to teach and preach on this commandment. For my own part, I feel it would be false and unscriptural delicacy, in addressing men, not to speak of that which is preeminently the “young man’s sin.”

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

Quotes (32)

 

Sound Protestant and evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse then useless: it does positive harm. It is despised by keen-sighted and shrewed men of the world, as an unreal and hollow thing, and brings religion into contempt.

- J.C. Ryle

1816 - 1900