The minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor a charitable man.
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'
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of nurturing one's spiritual life and suggests that there can be no excess in devotion to God and spirituality.
In this quote, J. C. Ryle reflects on the common regret people might have at the end of their lives regarding earthly pursuits, but he posits that no one feels they have overindulged in spiritual practices. It highlights the notion that spiritual growth, reflection, and connection with the divine are never regrettable and should be prioritized. The idea is that one does not come to the end of life wishing they had spent less time on their soul and more on material concerns.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a religious gathering, one might say this quote to encourage deeper engagement with 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.
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.
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
Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!
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.
Similar quotes
Look, he said to his imagination, if this is how you're going to behave, I shan't bring you again.
I've gotten this advice at different times, and it distills down to one word: purpose. Why are you here? When you start to get distracted by thoughts such as 'Do I fit in? Does this person like me?' - remember why you're there and what you want to accomplish.
Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently.
The greed for fruit misses the flower.
Don't be too assuming, it doesn't get you anywhere.
Be not as one that hath ten thousand years to live; death is nigh at hand: while thou livest, while thou hast time, be good.