Quotes from J.C. Ryle

The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be – tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish; he may be any of these things or not; it is all uncertain. But one thing the mother can say with certainty: he will have a corrupt and sinful heart.

In justification, the word to be addressed to us is "believe" – only believe; in sanctification, we must "watch, pray, and fight." What God has divided, let us not mingle and confuse.

La ignorancia y la inexperiencia son el pedestal del orgullo; quítale el pedestal, y el orgullo pronto caerá.

Death is a solemn thing, and never so much so as when we see it close at hand. The grave is a chilling, heart-sickening place, and it is vain to pretend it has no terrors.

Look to your foundation, if you would know whether or not you are a member of the one true Church.

There is an incessant craving after any teaching that is sensational, exciting, and stirs up emotion. There is an unhealthy appetite for a sort of intermittent and emotional Christianity. The religious life of many is little better than spiritual taste testing, and the agreeable spirit and peaceful that Peter commends is completely forgotten (1 Peter 3:4). Crowds, crying, feelings, entertaining singing, and an incessant stirring up of the emotions are the only things that many people care for.

Anhela alguno de nosotros ayudar a la iglesia de Cristo? Entonces ore pidiendo un gran derramamiento del Espíritu. Solo él puede dar profundidad a los sermones, discernimiento al consejo, poder a la exhortación y derrumbar las altas murallas de los corazones pecadores. No son los sermones mejor elaborados ni los mensajes mejor escritos lo que hoy se necesitan, sino más de la presencia del Espíritu Santo.

Cuanta más luz espiritual han disfrutado, mejor han visto sus innumerables defectos y faltas. Más gracia han tenido, más han sido revestidos "de humildad" (1 Pe. 5:5).

I have no desire to make an idol of holiness. I do not wish to dethrone Christ, and put holiness in His place. But I must candidly say, I wish sanctification was more thought of in this day than it seems to be, and I therefore take occasion to press the subject on all believers into whose hands these pages may fall.

Terribly black must that guilt be for which nothing but the blood of the Son of God could make satisfaction. Heavy must that weight of human sin be which made Jesus groan and sweat drops of blood in agony at Gethsemane, and cry at Golgotha, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

One of the surest marks of spiritual decline is a decreased interest about the souls of others and the growth of Christ's kingdom.

It is thoroughly Scriptural and right to say "faith alone justifies." But it is not equally Scriptural and right so say "faith alone sanctifies.

Cuando vengan los días oscuros, no nos resulte extraño. Más bien recordemos que las lecciones asimiladas en días oscuros nunca las hubiéramos aprendido en los días soleados.

As a general rule, in the long run of life, it will be found true that sanctified people are the happiest people on earth. They have solid comforts that the world can neither give nor take away.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). This is to show the mind of Christ. This is the right way to heap coals of fire on an enemy's head and to melt foes into friends (Romans 12:20).

If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shall thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge

Do we ourselves repent? This, after all, is the question which most nearly concerns us. Have we been convinced of sin by the Holy Spirit? Have we fled to Jesus for deliverance from the wrath to come? Do we know anything of a broken and contrite heart, and a thorough hatred of sin? Can we say, "I repent," as well as "I believe?" If not, let us not delude our minds with the idea that our sins are yet forgiven. It is written, "Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3.)

In the matter of Christ's second coming and kingdom, the church of Christ has not dealt fairly with the prophecies of the Old Testament. For too long we have refused to see that there are two personal advents of Christ spoken of in those prophecies: an advent in humiliation and an advent in glory, an advent to suffer and an advent to reign, a personal advent to carry the cross and a personal advent to wear the crown.

Don't fear withholding anything from your child that you think will do him harm, whatever his own wishes may be.

let us not expect too much from our own hearts here below. At our best we shall find in ourselves daily cause for humiliation, and discover that we are needy debtors to mercy and grace every hour.

Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct. Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, forbearance, patience, and sympathy are the cords by which a child may be led most easily. Willingness to enter into childish troubles and a readiness to take part in childish joys are the clues you must follow if you want to find the way to his heart.

Depend on it; there is no surer road to unhappiness than always having our own way. To have our wills checked and denied is a blessed thing for us; it makes us value enjoyments when they come. To be indulged perpetually is the way to be made selfish, and selfish people and spoiled children are seldom happy.

Saving faith and real converting grace will always produce some conformity to the image of Jesus.

Surely none are so crazy as those who are content to live unprepared to die. Surely the unbelief of men is the most amazing thing in the world.