Famous Quotes & Sayings

J. C. Ryle

For my own part, I believe that in dealing with skeptics, and unbelievers, and enemies of the Bible, Christians are too apt to stand only on the defensive. They are too often content with answering this or that little objection, or discussing this or that little difficulty, which is picked out of Scripture and thrown in their teeth. I believe we ought to act on the aggressive far more than we do, and to press home on the adversaries of [Biblical] inspiration the enormous difficulties of their own position.

J. C. Ryle

The Christianity that saves is a thing personally grasped, personally experienced, personally felt and personally possessed.

J. C. Ryle

To be Christian it will cost a man his love of ease.

J. C. Ryle

The Bible in the pulpit must never supersede the Bible at home.

J. C. Ryle

Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.

J. C. Ryle

The true Christian delights to hear something about their Master. They like those sermons best which are full of Christ.

J. C. Ryle

Humility and love are precisely the graces which the men of the world can understand, if they do not comprehend doctrines. They are the graces about which there is no mystery, and they are within reach of all classes... The poorest Christian can every day find occasion for practicing love and humility.

J. C. Ryle

Men fall in private long before they fall in public.

J. C. Ryle

Before Christ comes, it is useless to expect to see the perfect church.

J. C. Ryle

Do you wish to grow in grace and be a holy Christian? Then never forget the value of prayer.

J. C. Ryle

We ought to regard the sacrament of baptism with reverence. An ordinance of which the Lord Jesus Himself partook, is not to be lightly esteemed. An ordinance to which the great Head of the Church submitted, ought to be ever honorable in the eyes of professing Christians.

J. C. Ryle

Let us resolve to talk more to believers about the Bible when we meet them. Alas, the conversation of Christians, when they do meet, is often sadly unprofitable! How many frivolous, and trifling, and uncharitable things are said! Let us bring out the Bible more, and it will help to drive the devil away, and keep our hearts in tune. Oh, that we may all strive so to walk together in this evil world; that Jesus may often draw near, and go with us, as He went with the two disciples journeying to Emmaus!

J. C. Ryle

The saddest symptom about many so-called Christians is the utter absence of anything like conflict and fight against spiritual apathy in their Christianity. They eat, they drink, they dress, they work, they amuse themselves, they get money, they spend money, they go through a brief round of formal religious services once or twice every week. But of the great spiritual warfare - its watchings and strugglings, its agonies and anxieties, its battles and contests - of all things they appear to know nothing at all. Let us take care that this case is not our own.

J. C. Ryle

No doubt a man may be saved, like the penitent thief, without having received the Lord's Supper. It is not a matter of absolute and indispensable necessity, like repentance, faith, and conversion. But it is impossible to say that any professing Christian is in a safe, healthy, or satisfactory condition of soul, who habitually refuses to obey Christ and attend the Lord's Table.

J. C. Ryle

Meekness is one of the brightest graces which can adorn the Christian character.

J. C. Ryle

Whatever others around you think, don't you ever be ashamed of being a Christian.

J. C. Ryle

Let us daily strive to copy our Saviour's humility.

J. C. Ryle

The world's idea of greatness is to rule, but Christian greatness consists in serving.

J. C. Ryle

No one ever said at the end of his days; 'I have read my bible too much, I have thought of God too much, I have prayed too much, I have been too careful with my soul'

J. C. Ryle

Millions of people profess and call themselves Christians, whom the Apostle Paul would not have called Christians at all.

J. C. Ryle

Just as the telescope and microscope show us that there is order and design in all the works of God’s hand, from the greatest planet down to the least insect, so does the Bible teach us that there is wisdom, order and design in all the events of our daily life. There is no such thing as 'chance', 'luck', or 'accident' in the Christian journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God: and all things are 'working together' for the believer’s good.

J. C. Ryle

O Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and those who follow Him shall never perish, neither shall anyone pluck them out of His hands.

J. C. Ryle

Christ's death is the Christian's life. Christ's cross is the Christian's title to heaven. Christ "lifted up" and put to shame on Calvary is the ladder by which Christians "enter into the holiest," and are at length landed in glory.

J. C. Ryle

A trial is an instrument by which our Father in heaven makes Christians more holy.

J. C. Ryle

The true Christian does not need to be reminded that they have a crucified Master. They OFTEN think of Him.

J. C. Ryle

A Christian is nothing more than a sinner who has found out their sinfulness, and has learned the blessed secret of living by faith in Christ.

J. C. Ryle

True Christians delight to read the Scriptures, because they tell them about their beloved Savior.

J. C. Ryle

There are few professing Christians, it may be feared, who strive to imitate Christ in the matter of private devotion. There is abundance of hearing, reading, talking, professing, visiting, contributing to the poor and teaching at schools. But is there, together with all this, a due proportion of private prayer? Are believing men and women sufficiently careful to be frequently alone with God?

J. C. Ryle

How is it that many who profess and call themselves Christians, do so little for the Savior whose name they bear?

J. C. Ryle

Our Lord has many weak children in his family, many dull pupils in his school, many raw soldiers in his army, many lame sheep in his flock. Yet he bears with them all, and casts none away. Happy is that Christian who has learned to do likewise with his brethren.

J. C. Ryle

It costs something to be a true Christian. It will cost us our sins, our self-righteousn ess, our ease and our worldliness.

J. C. Ryle

Miserable indeed is that religious teaching which calls itself Christian, and yet contains nothing of the cross.

J. C. Ryle

A Christian is a walking sermon. They preach far more than a minister does, for they preach all week long.