The cross is the foundation of the Bible: If you have not yet found out that Christ crucified is the foundation of the whole volume, you have hitherto read your Bible to very little profit. Your religion is a heaven without a sun, an arch without a keystone, a compass without a needle, a clock without a spring or weights, a lamp without oil. It will not comfort you; it will not deliver your soul from hell.
J. C. RyleLet us resolve by God's grace, that however poor and feeble our prayers may seem to be, we will pray on.
J. C. RyleLet us never forget that our chief danger is from within. The world and the devil combined, cannot do us as much harm as our own hearts will, if we do not watch and pray.
J. C. RyleBy affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven.
J. C. RyleWhen 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. Ryle