It may well be feared, that there is not enough Biblereading among us. It is not sufficient to have the Book. We must actually read it, and pray over it ourselves. It will do us no good, if it only lies still in our houses. We must be actually familiar with its contents, and have its texts stored in our memories and minds. Knowledge of the Bible never comes by intuition. It can only be obtained by diligent, regular, daily, attentive, wakeful reading.
J. C. RyleTrue faith will always show itself by its fruits . . . I suspect that, with rare exceptions, men die just as they have lived.
J. C. RyleWhen a personโs tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.
J. C. RyleLet 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.
J. C. RyleDo not glory in your own faith, your own feelings, your own knowledge, or your own diligence. Glory in nothing but Christ.
J. C. RyleWe must cast away everything which hinders us upon our road towards heaven โ the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life; the love of riches, pleasures and honors, the spirit of lukewarmness and carelessness and indifference about the things of God โ all must be rooted out and forsaken if we are anxious for the prize. We must mortify the deeds of the body, we must crucify our affections for this world.
J. C. Ryle