Category Archives: Ryle, J.C.

Ryle on repentance

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[Notes of ch. 16 of ‘Old Paths’, by J.C. Ryle]

Lk 13:3 “Unless you repent, you will all perish!”

This text seems severe, but it comes from the lips of out loving saviour. It is, after all, a sign of love, not hate, to warn of coming danger.

1. What is repentance?

It is one of the foundation-stones of Christianity, and is spoken of at least 60 times in the New Testament.

  • Jesus preached it, Mk 1:15
  • The Apostles preached it – Lk 6:12
  • Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach it – Lk 24:47
  • Peter preached it – Acts 2:38
  • Paul preached it – Acts 20:21

‘Repentance is a thorough change of a man’s natural heart upon the subject of sin’.…

Heirs of God

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A summary of ch. 16 of Practical Religion, by J. C. Ryle

Rom 8: 14-17

The Apostle is speaking to the richest people on earth. The inheritance of which he speaks:-

  • is the only inheritance really worth having. All others are unsatisfying and ‘They bring with them many cares. They cannot cure an aching heart or lighten a heavy conscience. They cannot keep off family troubles. They cannot prevent sicknesses, bereavements, separation, and deaths.’
  • is the only inheritance which is within everybody’s reach.
…

Ryle on encouragements to prayer

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God has provided us with powerful encouragements to prayer (writes J.C. Ryle in Practical Religion).

I summarise.

  1. We have a way opened up for us by Jesus Christ.  ‘The name of Jesus is a never-failing passport to our prayers. In that name a man may draw near to God with boldness, and ask with confidence. God has engaged to hear him.’
  2. We have an advocate and intercessor presenting out prayers to the throne of grace. 
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Self-enquiry

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Abstracted from Practical Religion, by J. C. Ryle, chapter 1.

(1) Do we ever think about our souls at all?

Thousands of English people, I fear, cannot answer that question satisfactorily. They never give the subject of religion any place in their thoughts. From the beginning of the year to the end they are absorbed in the pursuit of business, pleasure, politics, money, or self-indulgence of some kind or another. Death, and judgment, and eternity, and heaven, and hell, and a world to come, are never calmly looked at and considered.…

Simplicity in preaching

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J.C. Ryle was a master of a simple, forthright style.  His advice to fellow-preachers is invaluable.

Here’s a summary.

Prefatory remarks

1. Simplicity in preaching is of the utmost importance.  We cannot be useful if we cannot be understood, and we cannot be understood if we are not simple.

2. Simplicity in preaching is not easy to attain.  It is easier to appear clever than to be intelligible.

3. Simple preaching does not mean childish preaching.…

Election and the means of grace

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Election was never intended to prevent men making a diligent use of all means of grace. On the contrary, the neglect of means is a most suspicious symptom, and should make us very doubtful about the state of a man’s soul. Those whom the Holy Ghost draws He always draws to the written Word of God and to prayer. When there is the real grace of God in a heart, there will always be love to the means of grace.…

Election known by its fruits

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The Elect of God can only be discerned from those who are not Elect by their faith and life. We cannot climb up into the secret of God’s eternal counsels. We cannot read the book of life. The fruits of the Spirit, seen and manifested in a man’s conversation, are the only grounds on which we can ascertain that he is one of God’s Elect. Where the marks of God’s Elect can be seen, there, and there only, have we any warrant for saying “this is one of the Elect.”…

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:-

‘I believe that the Jews shall ultimately be gathered again as a separate nation, restored to their own land, and converted to the faith of Christ, after going through great tribulation. (Jeremiah 30:10, 11; 31:10; Romans 11:25, 26; Daniel 12:1; Zech.

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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.…