In 1958 I became acquainted with J.C. Ryle. We received an anonymous gift of three one dollar bills from Lancaster, PA. Also in the envelope was a tract on Hell by bishop Ryle. Many years later while ministering in Taiwan, I was given a picture of J.C. Ryle with his own signature on the picture. More years went by when here in Moscow, a man was publishing hard back books of all of J.C. Ryle’s writings. I gave the man the picture with the autograph. He was grateful. I received free new books.
This is an excuse to quote two quotes by J.C. Ryle on zeal.
“It may be very true that wise young believers are very rare. But it is no less true that zealous old believers are very rare also.” – J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, p. 147
“A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies – whether he is rich, or whether he is poor – whether he pleases men, or whether he gives offence – whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish – whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame – for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is, to please God and to advance God’s glory.” – J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, p. 130.
This is an excuse to quote two quotes by J.C. Ryle on zeal.
“It may be very true that wise young believers are very rare. But it is no less true that zealous old believers are very rare also.” – J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, p. 147
“A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies – whether he is rich, or whether he is poor – whether he pleases men, or whether he gives offence – whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish – whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame – for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is, to please God and to advance God’s glory.” – J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, p. 130.
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