Category Archives: Ryle, J.C.

Ryle and the future of the Jews

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In his book ‘Coming Events and Present Duties’ (1867/1879), J.C. Ryle summarises his views on prophecy and presents a handful of sermons preached on various aspects of this subject.

Concerning the future of the Jews, Ryle states:-

Ryle develops this conviction in a sermon entitled ‘Scattered Israel to be Gathered’.  Based on Jeremiah 31:10, this contains fairly standard teaching for a mid-19th-century Evangelical, and makes the following assertions:-

  • The word ‘Israel’ carries only three meanings in Scripture: (a) it means Jacob; (b) it means the ten northern tribes (as distinct from Judah); (c) it means the entire Jewish nation. 
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J.C. Ryle – an appreciation

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[The following is the substance of a lecture given at the Old Meeting House, Norwich, as one in a series of talks entitled ‘Light From Old Paths’.  I am grateful to Dr John Clements for the invitation.]

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)

‘For my part, I am quite willing to be eaten of dogs for the next fifty years; but the more distant future shall vindicate me.’

Those words were spoken, not by the subject of my talk tonight, J.C.…

What Evangelical Religion is not

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Having set out what he regards as the five leading features of ‘evangelical religion’ (i.e. evangelical faith), J.C. Ryle then goes on to write about what it is not:-

1.  It does not despise learning, although it steadily refuses to place any uninspired writings on a level with revelation.

2.  It does not undervalue the Church, although it refuses to exalt the Church above Christ, or teach people that membership of the Church is identical with membership of Christ.…

Evangelical Religion

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JC. Ryle (1817-1900) was a doughty supporter and proponent of ‘evangelical religion’ (i.e. evangelical faith).

In his celebrated work, Knots Untied, Ryle set out what he regarded as the leading features of such faith:-

“These I consider to be five in number.

a) The first leading feature of Evangelical Religion is the absolute supremacy it assigns to Holy Scripture, as the only rule of faith and practice … Show us anything plainly written in that Book, and, however trying to flesh and blood, we will receive it, believe it, and submit to it.…

Ryle and Ritualism

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Throughout his long ministry, J.C. Ryle (1817-1900) had to defend evangelical (that is to say, gospel) truth on a number of fronts.  One of these concerned the threat posed by the Ritualism of the Anglo-Catholic movement.

Ian Farley reports that in 1877 Ryle identified five key teachings of the Ritualists:

  1. They seek to turn the Communion Table into an ‘Altar’ and the Lord’s Supper into a ‘Sacrifice’ and encourage the idea of a real material presence of Christ’s body and blood, under the forms of the consecrated bread and wine.
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Assurance to be desired

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Although one can have faith without assurance, belief without confidence, nevertheless assurance of salvation is much to be desired.  It provides comfort and strength in challenging times.  So writes J.C. Ryle:-

(Holiness)…

Train a child

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1. Train them in the way they should go, and not in the way they would.

2. Train up your child with all tenderness, affection and patience.

3. Train up your children with an abiding persuation on your mind that much depends on you. “Beware of that miserable delusion into which some have fallen – that parents can do nothing for their children, that you must leave them alone, wait for grace, and sit still … The devil rejoices to see such reasoning.”

4.…