471 Quotes by J. C. Ryle

He that would be conformed to Christ’s image, and become a Christ-like man, must be constantly studying Christ Himself.

True Christianity is not merely believing a certain set of dry abstract propositions: it is to live in daily personal communication with an actual living person – Jesus Christ.

It was the whole Trinity, which at the beginning of creation said, “Let us make man”. It was the whole Trinity again, which at the beginning of the Gospel seemed to say, “Let us save man”.

The best of men are men at best.

Prayer and temptation, the Bible and meditation, make a true minister of the gospel.

The love of the Bible will show itself in a believer’s actions.

We may be very sure that men fall in private long before they fall in public. They are backsliders on their knees long before they backslide openly in the eyes of the world. Like Peter, they first disregard the Lord’s warning to watch and pray; and then, like Peter, their strength is gone, and in the hour of temptation they deny their Lord. The world takes notice of their fall, and scoffs loudly. But the world knows nothing of the real reason.

Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and form. Some people get as much harm from their “virtues” as others do from their sins.

Tomorrow is the devil’s day, but today is God’s. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow.