John Charles Ryle (10 May 1816 – 10 June 1900) was an English Evangelical Anglican bishop. He was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool.
We are evidently no friends of Satan. Like the kings of this world, he wars not against his own subjects. The very fact that he assaults us should fill our minds with hope.
God does not look at riches, titles, education, or beauty. There is only one thing that God does look at, and that is the soul.
People may refuse to see the truth of our arguments, but they cannot evade the evidence of a holy life.
To be prayerless is to be without God, without Christ, without grace, without hope, and without heaven.
Sin rarely seems sin at first beginnings.
Do not glory in your own faith, your own feelings, your own knowledge, or your own diligence. Glory in nothing but Christ.
The 'means of grace' are such as Bible reading, private prayer, and regularly worshiping God in Church, wherein one hears the Word taught and participates in the Lord's Supper.
We must give up the vain idea of trying to please everybody. That is impossible, and the attempt is a mere waste of time. We must be content to walk in Christ's steps, and let the world say what it likes.
What is the best safeguard against false doctrine? The Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied.
Whatever you read, read the Bible first. Beware of bad books: there are plenty in this day. Take heed what you read.
To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new views, new principles, new tastes, new affections, new likings, new dislikings, new fears, new joys, new sorrows, new love to things once hated, new hatred to things once loved, new thoughts of God, and ourselves, and the world, and the life to come, and salvation.
Let us watch against pride in every shape - pride of intellect, pride of wealth, pride of our own goodness. Nothing is so likely to keep a person out of heaven, and prevent them from seeing Christ, as pride. So long as we think we are something we shall never be saved. Let us pray for and cultivate humility; let us seek to know ourselves correctly, and to find out our place in the sight of a holy God.
Let us be very careful that we never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or friend above the Word of God.
What would you expect? Sin will not come to you saying, 'I am sin. ' It would do little harm if it did. Sin always seems 'good, pleasant and desirable' at the time of arrival.
We can never make too much of Christ. He is worthy of all the honor that we can give Him.
The love of Christ towards His people is a deep well which has no bottom.
Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer.
The incorruptible things are all within the narrow gate. The peace of God which passed all understanding - the bright hope of good things to come - the sense of the Spirit dwelling in us - the consciousness that we are forgiven, safe, insured, provided for in time and eternity, whatever may happen - these are true gold, and lasting riches.
A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his peace.
Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may have no doubt whose you are, and whom you serve.