Our Extended Ryle Episodes

Back to our Extended Ryle, we are almost done reviewing the book. Beloved brethren, whether you are just beginning your conversation with our Savior or starting again for the third (or one hundredth) time as you get to know God through prayer, J.C. Ryle expresses like no other the encouragement we need to press on to know the Lord as Hosea exhorts us - chapter 6 verse 3. Perhaps the most poignant exhortation to prayer ever: "Wait not because you feel unworthy. Wait for nothing. Wait for nobody. ...

J.C. Ryle is beginning to wrap up his treatise on "A Call to Prayer." In the first step in this short, from his perspective, and final set of appeals, he has specific admonish for those in need of saving grace, and next time, to the prayerless child of God. Samples: "Oh, prayerless reader, who and what are you that you will not ask anything of God? Have you made a covenant with death and hell? Are you at peace with the worm and the fire? Have you no sins to be pardoned? Have you no fear of etern...

How do you distinguish between a cherry tree and a pare tree? I use all my knowledge in plantology to know how. But critically: Samual Rutherford wrote: "Wrestle, fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray; and then ye have all the infallible symptoms of one of the elect of Christ within you." J.C. Ryle, Rutherford, and all serious teachers of the word of God emphasize the symptoms of true faith. Or the evidence of true faith. Why? Because the Bible heavily focuses on that necessity. John the...

Joshua's words are a challenge of belief. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. But what after you have made that decision? What is our process when facing a below-average life in this flesh? As we will see from J.C. Ryle, our first response to every circumstance should be, "As for me, I will seek the Lord." Richard Baxter adds his most probing Question: "Are not the comforts you desire neglected or resisted?" "Oh that men would understand that happiness, does not depend on outward cir...

Category: Our Extended Ryle. “Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.” “Wha...

Category: Our Extended Ryle We view the most sweeping and joyous section of “A Call to Prayer.” Today is the most extended quote from J.C. Ryle thus far, and that is a blessing. More of the genius of Bishop Ryle and less of me is always a good thing. “Some without doubt have a larger cup of sorrow to drink than others. But few are to be found who live long without sorrows or cares “of one sort or another. Our bodies, our property, our families, our children, our relations, our servants, our frie...

Category: Our Extended Ryle What do you think when you hear duty, glory, and excellence? When in "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," Jeremiah Burroughs talks of the "Duty, Glory, and Excellency of a Christian," being our goal in Christian contentment, which can be seen as a summary of the Puritan thought on the Christian life. "And what is the best means of cheerfulness in such a world as this? How shall we get through this valley of tears with least pain? I know no better means than the ...

Category: Our Extended Ryle A cheetah housed in zoos that are too small for their created design… that is to run, jump, pursue, all with deft agility, become increasingly unhealthy. Just so for the new creation of Christians. Whether exasperated struggles or long-term backsliding, J.C. Ryle encourages us to consider what part our lack of daily private prayer might play in our sad demeanor. “It is a miserable thing to be a backslider. Of all unhappy things that can befall a man, I suppose it is t...

Category: Word, Real Life, and Prayer. Have you ever heard the question, “how can we pray without ceasing?” I have asked it myself; J.C. Ryle has some thoughts to help us answer the missive. Bibles read without prayer; sermons heard without prayer; marriages contracted without prayer; journeys undertaken without prayer; residences chosen without prayer; friendships formed without prayer; the daily act of private prayer itself hurried over, or gone through without heart: these are the kind of dow...

Personal positive habits in devotion are the first line in the virus of backsliding in our community with the Savior. How long can you sustain lying to your closest confidant? "Now what is the cause of most backslidings? I believe, as a general rule, one of the chief causes is neglect of private prayer. Of course the secret history of falls will not be known till the last day. I can only give my opinion as a minister of Christ and a student of the heart. That opinion is, I repeat distinctly, tha...