Good hymns are an immense blessing to the Church. They train people for heaven, where praise is one of the principal occupations.
J. C. RyleRead
The minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor a charitable man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A faithful minister should not shy away from discussing the consequences of actions, including the concept of hell, to guide his congregation.
This quote emphasizes the responsibility of a minister to deliver complete and honest teachings, including difficult truths like the existence of hell. By avoiding the topic, a minister is neglecting his duty to provide guidance and aid to his community, making him unfaithful to his role.
Themes
TruthFaithfulnessGuidanceHellMinistry
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon addressing the importance of accountability, I could reference this quote to emphasize the role of clergy in discussing the reality of hell.
More from J. C. Ryle
All quotes βWhen 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 Godβs 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
If anyone feels his sins, let him come at once, straight, direct, not merely to church, or to the sacrament, or to repentance, or to prayer, but to Christ Himself.
J. C. RyleRead
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