Nicaea Library › Library

J. C. Ryle: Holiness

J. C. Ryle · 1877–1879

The evangelical bishop of Liverpool on sin, sanctification and the fight of faith.

Edition: CCEL · www.ccel.org

Free to read, with no account needed. Public domain or openly licensed, with every source named.

Read it free online Download for Windows (free)

From the opening: Introduction

The twenty papers contained in this volume are a humble contribution to a cause which is exciting much interest in the present day,--I mean the cause of Scriptural holiness. It is a cause which everyone who loves Christ, and desires to advance His kingdom in the world, should endeavour to help forward. Everyone can do something, and I wish to add my mite.

The reader will find little that is directly controversial in these papers. I have carefully abstained from naming modern teachers and modern books. I have been content to give the result of my own study of the Bible, my own private meditations, my own prayers for light, and my own reading of old divines. If in anything I am still in error, I hope I shall be shown it before I leave the world. We all see in part, and have a treasure in earthen vessels. I trust I am willing to learn.

I have had a deep conviction for many years that practical holiness and entire self-consecration to God are not sufficiently attended to by modern Christians in this country. Politics, or controversy, or party-spirit, or worldliness, have eaten out the heart of lively piety in too many of us. The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly into the background. The standard of living has become painfully low in many quarters. The immense importance of "adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour" (Titus ii. 10), and making it lovely and beautiful by our daily habits and tempers, has been far too much overlooked. Worldly people sometimes complain with reason that "religious" persons, so-called, are not so amiable and unselfish and good-natured as others who make no profession of religion. Yet sanctification, in its place and proportion, is quite as important as justification. Sound Protestant and Evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless: it does positive harm. It is despised by keen-sighted and shrewd men of the world, as an unreal and hollow thing, and brings religion into contempt. It is my firm impression that we want a thorough revival about Scriptural holiness, and I am deeply thankful that attention is being directed to the point.

It is, however, of great importance that the whole subject should be placed on right foundations, and that the movement about it should not be damaged by crude, disproportioned, and one-sided statements. If such statements abound, we must not be…

Keep reading in the library →

Contents (30 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Title page
  3. Title page (continued)
  4. Introduction
  5. Introduction (continued)
  6. Introduction (continued)
  7. Introduction (continued)
  8. Introduction (continued)
  9. Introduction (continued)
  10. Introduction (continued)
  11. Introduction (continued)
  12. Introduction (continued)
  13. Introduction (continued)
  14. Introduction (continued)
  15. X. a Woman to Be Remembered
  16. X. a Woman to Be Remembered (continued)
  17. XI. Christ's Greatest Trophy
  18. XII. the Ruler of the Waves
  19. XII. the Ruler of the Waves (continued)
  20. XIII. the Church Which Christ Builds
  21. XIV. Visible Churches Warned
  22. XV. "Lovest Thou Me?"
  23. XVI. Without Christ
  24. XVII. Thirst Relieved
  25. XVII. Thirst Relieved (continued)
  26. XVIII. "Unsearchable Riches"
  27. XIX. Wants of the Times
  28. XIX. Wants of the Times (continued)
  29. XIX. Wants of the Times (continued)
  30. XXI Extracts from Old Writers

How to cite it

Chicago
J. C. Ryle. J. C. Ryle: Holiness. CCEL, 1877–1879. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/ryle/holiness
MLA
J. C. Ryle. J. C. Ryle: Holiness. CCEL, 1877–1879. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/ryle/holiness
APA
J. C. Ryle (1877–1879). J. C. Ryle: Holiness. CCEL. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/ryle/holiness

More from After the Reformation