Category Archives: J. C. Ryle

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven

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Most men hope to go to heaven when they die, but few, it may be feared, take the trouble to consider whether they would enjoy heaven if they got there. Heaven is essentially a holy place; its inhabitants are all holy; its occupations are all holy. To be really happy in heaven it is clear and plain that we must be somewhat trained and made ready for heaven while we are on earth…. No man can possibly be in a place where he is not in his element, and where all around him is not congenial to his tastes, habits and character. When an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in the water, when an owl is happy in a blaze of noonday sun, when a fish is happy in the dry land — then, and not till then will I admit that the unsanctified man could be happy in heaven.

J. C. Ryle, Holiness (Carlisle, PA: Evangelical Press, 2011), 22-23.

Excuses Are the Devil’s Currency

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Reasons will never be wanting in our minds why we cannot be bright and eminent Christians just now. It is very possible to admire a high standard of spirituality in others, while we are content with very low practice ourselves. We persuade our selves there is something peculiar in our particular case which makes it almost impossible to shine…. [Excuses] are generally the Devils coinage. Let us settle it firmly in our hearts, that there are few of us indeed who cannot glorify God just where we are without any change. All our excuses are as dust in the balance when placed against that promise “my grace is sufficient for thee.” Let us not deceive ourselves. By the grace of God we may be bright saints even now.

J. C. Ryle, Consider Your Ways (London: Wertheim & Macintosh, 1849), 22.

Sweet Comfort in Suffering

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Would you have sweet comfort in suffering and trial? Then keep in constant view your Savior’s humanity. He is the man Christ Jesus, who lay on the bosom of the Virgin Mary, as a little infant, and knows the heart of a man. He can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities. He has Himself experienced Satan’s temptations. He has endured hunger. He has shed tears. He has felt pain. Trust Him at all times with all your sorrows. He will not despise you. Pour out all your heart before Him in prayer, and keep nothing back. He can sympathize with His people.

J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew

HT: Reformed Quotes