When a manโs heart is cold and unconcerned about religion โ when his hands are never employed in doing Godโs work โ when his feet are not familiar with Godโs ways โ when his tongue is seldom or never used in prayer and praise โ when his eyes are blind to the beauty of the kingdom of heaven โ when his mind is full of the world, and has no room for spiritual things โ when these marks are to be found in a man the word of the Bible is the right word to use about him, and that word is, โDead.โ
J. C. RyleThe Lord Jesus is "a friend who never changes." There is no fickleness about Him: those whom He loves, He loves to the end.
J. C. RyleDeath is a solemn event for everyone. It is the winding up of all earthly plans and expectations. It is a separation from all we have loved and lived with. It is often accompanied by much bodily pain and distress. It opens the door to judgement and eternity - to heaven or to hell. It is an event after which there is no change, or space for repentance.
J. C. RyleTrue Christianity is not merely believing a certain set of dry abstract propositions: it is to live in daily personal communication with an actual living person - Jesus Christ.
J. C. RyleThe true Christian regards all Christ's friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home. When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them. He is more at home with them in a few minutes, than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years. And what is the secret of all this? It is simply affection to the same Savior and love to the same Lord.
J. C. Ryle