The minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor a charitable man.
J. C. RyleRead
There is more Bible buying, Bible selling, Bible printing and Bible distributing than ever before in our nation. We see Bibles in every bookstore - Bibles of every size, price and style. There are Bibles in almost every house in the land. But all this time I fear we are in danger of forgetting that to HAVE the Bible is one thing, and to READ it quite another.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Owning a Bible doesn't mean one understands or values its teachings; reading it is essential.
This quote by J. C. Ryle highlights the difference between possessing a Bible and engaging with its content. Ryle expresses concern that while Bibles are widely available and owned, many may neglect the importance of reading and comprehending the text, which holds significant spiritual value. It serves as a reminder to not just collect religious texts but to actively seek knowledge and understanding from them.
Themes
BibleReadingSpiritualityUnderstandingFaith
In practice
Example use cases
In a church sermon discussing the importance of scripture, this quote can be used to emphasize active engagement with religious texts.
More from J. C. Ryle
All quotes →Good hymns are an immense blessing to the Church. They train people for heaven, where praise is one of the principal occupations.
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When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply this - that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual mindedness more marked.
J. C. RyleRead
Those who confine God's love exclusively to the elect appear to me to take a narrow and contracted view of God's character and attributes....I have long come to the conclusion that men may be _x000D_ more systematic in their statements than the Bible, and may be led into grave error by idolatrous veneration of a system
J. C. RyleRead
Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!
J. C. RyleRead
Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if it mattered not in what way such work was done. Let us carry with us faith, reverence, and prayer. If these three are our companions, we will hear with profit, and return with praise.
J. C. RyleRead
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