The minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor a charitable man.
J. C. RyleRead
If the Bible is not the Word of God and inspired, the whole of Christendom for 1800 years has been under an immense delusion; half the human race has been cheated and deceived, and churches are monuments of folly. If the Bible is the Word of God and inspired, all who refuse to believe it are in fearful danger; they are living on the brink of eternal misery. No man, in his sober senses, can fail to see that the whole subject demands most serious attention.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the significance of the Bible's authenticity as the Word of God and its implications for humanity's beliefs.
J. C. Ryle illustrates a stark contrast between the belief in the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the alternative, suggesting that if it is not, then the entirety of Christian faith has been a misguided illusion. He warns that accepting the Bible as divinely inspired carries a grave urgency for belief, as rejecting it may lead to dire spiritual consequences, emphasizing the need for serious contemplation of its implications.
Themes
BibleFaithTruthDelusionDangerInspiration
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon discussing the importance of scripture, one might reference this quote to emphasize the gravity of faith.
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.
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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
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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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