I love reading authors from the past, and a great book that I read a couple years ago is a book by J.C. Ryle called, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots.
J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) was an Anglican bishop, who ministered in England around the same time as Charles Spurgeon.
I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes from the book so as to encourage you. It was written in 1877, but you will find that it’s very relevant.
“I only know it is far easier to be a Christian among singing, praying, sympathizing Christians in a public room, than to be a consistent Christian in a quiet, retired, out-of-the-way, uncongenial home.” (page ix)
“It may be that a certain profession of religion has become so fashionable and comparatively easy in the present age, that the streams which were once narrow and deep have become wide and shallow, and what we have gained in outward show we have lost in quality.” (page 17)
“I am afraid that in many cases this external religiousness is made a substitute for inward holiness…There may be an immense amount of ‘bodily service’, while there is not a jot of real sanctification.” (page 35)
“To reach the holiday of glory, we must pass through the training school of grace.” (page 61)
“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough–a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and is worth nothing.” (page 192)
“They spend their lives in trying to make the gate more wide, and the cross more light.” (page 206)
“The eye of the child drinks in far more than the ear.” (page 214)
“Alas! not a few things are done by believers which seem very good to you and me, but are rated very low by Christ.” (page 311)
“The formal, easy-going, do little-thing which most people call religion, is evidently not the religion of the Lord Jesus…Of all sights in the church of Christ, I know none more painful to my own eyes than a Christian contented and satisfied with a little grace, a little repentance, a little knowledge, a little charity, and a little holiness.” (page 318)
“But while we are thankful for the increase of public religion, we must never forget that, unless it is accompanied by private religion, it is of no real solid value, and may even produce most mischievous effects. Incessant running after sensational preachers, incessant attendance at hot, crowded meetings, protracted to late hours, incessant craving after fresh excitement and highly-spiced pulpit novelties–all this kind of thing is calculated to produce a very unhealthy style of Christianity; and, in many cases, I am afraid, the end is utter ruin of soul.” (page 408)
Quotes are from: Ryle, J. C. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots. The Banner of Truth Trust, 2014.
Portraits of Grace 