Startling Questions
Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Christian Literature, Bible & Bible Studies, Study
| Author: | J. C. Ryle | ISBN: | 1230001946222 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications | Publication: | October 1, 2017 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | J. C. Ryle |
| ISBN: | 1230001946222 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications |
| Publication: | October 1, 2017 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
There are those, who, if Bible words mean anything, have not yet been converted and born again. They are not justified. They are not sanctified. They have not the Spirit. They have no faith. They have no grace. Their sins are not forgiven. Their hearts are not changed. They are not ready to die. They are not meet for heaven. They are neither godly, nor righteous, nor saints. If they are, Bible words mean nothing at all.
Some of these persons, to all appearance, think no more about their souls than the beasts that perish. There is nothing to show that they think of the life to come any more than the horse and ox, which have no understanding. Their treasure is evidently all on earth. Their good things are plainly all on this side of the grave. Their attention is swallowed up by the perishable things of time. Meat, drink, and clothing,—money, houses, and land,—business, pleasure, or politics,—marrying, reading, or company;—these are the kind of things which fill their hearts. They live as if there were no such book as the Bible. They go on as if resurrection and eternal judgment were not true, but a lie. As to grace, and conversion, and justification, and holiness,—they are things which, like Gallio, they care not for;—they are words and names they are either ignorant of, or despise. They are all going to die. They are all going to be judged. And yet they seem to be even more hardened than the devil, for they appear neither to believe nor tremble. Alas! what a state this is for an immortal soul to be in! But oh! how common!
There are those, who, if Bible words mean anything, have not yet been converted and born again. They are not justified. They are not sanctified. They have not the Spirit. They have no faith. They have no grace. Their sins are not forgiven. Their hearts are not changed. They are not ready to die. They are not meet for heaven. They are neither godly, nor righteous, nor saints. If they are, Bible words mean nothing at all.
Some of these persons, to all appearance, think no more about their souls than the beasts that perish. There is nothing to show that they think of the life to come any more than the horse and ox, which have no understanding. Their treasure is evidently all on earth. Their good things are plainly all on this side of the grave. Their attention is swallowed up by the perishable things of time. Meat, drink, and clothing,—money, houses, and land,—business, pleasure, or politics,—marrying, reading, or company;—these are the kind of things which fill their hearts. They live as if there were no such book as the Bible. They go on as if resurrection and eternal judgment were not true, but a lie. As to grace, and conversion, and justification, and holiness,—they are things which, like Gallio, they care not for;—they are words and names they are either ignorant of, or despise. They are all going to die. They are all going to be judged. And yet they seem to be even more hardened than the devil, for they appear neither to believe nor tremble. Alas! what a state this is for an immortal soul to be in! But oh! how common!
