Be A Man Of Wisdom

J.C. Ryle Holiness (1879 edition) "Need of the Times!"

http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/holiness20.htm

For your own soul's sake, dare to make up your mind what you believe, and dare to have positive distinct views of truth and error. Never, never be afraid to hold decided doctrinal opinions; and let no fear of man and no morbid dread of being thought party-spirited, narrow or controversial — make you rest contented with a bloodless, boneless, tasteless, colorless, lukewarm, undogmatic Christianity.

Mark what I say. If you want to do good in these times — you must throw aside indecision, and take up a distinct, sharply cut, doctrinal religion. If you believe little, those to whom you try to do good will believe nothing.

The victories of Christianity, wherever they have been won, have been won by distinct doctrinal theology, by telling men roundly of Christ's vicarious death and sacrifice, by showing them Christ's substitution on the cross and His precious blood, by teaching them justification by faith and bidding them believe on a crucified Savior by preaching . . .

ruin by sin,

redemption by Christ,

regeneration by the Spirit,

by lifting up (Christ), by telling men to look and live, to believe, repent and be converted.

There is a common complaint in these latter days that there is a lack of power in modern Christianity, and that the true church of Christ, the body of which He is the Head, does not shake the world in the nineteenth century as it used to do in former years. Shall I tell you in plain words what is the reason? It is the low tone of life which is so sadly prevalent among professing believers. We need more men and women who walk with God and before God, like Enoch and Abraham. Though our numbers at this date far exceed those of our evangelical forefathers, I believe we fall far short of them in our standard of Christian practice. Where is . . .

the self-denial,

the redemption of time,

the absence of luxury and self-indulgence,

the unmistakable separation from earthly things,

the manifest air of being always about our Master's business,

the singleness of eye,

the simplicity of home life,

the high tone of conversation in society,

the patience, the humility, the universal love —

which marked Christians seventy or eighty years ago?

The Holy Spirit sees it, and is grieved;

and the world sees it, and despises us.

The world sees it, and cares little for our testimony.

It is life, life — a heavenly, godly, Christ-like life — depend on it, which influences the world.

Let us resolve, by God's blessing, to shake off this reproach. Let us awake to a clear view of what the times require of us in this matter. Let us aim at a much higher standard of practice. Let the time past suffice us to have been content with a half-and-half holiness. For the time to come — let us endeavor to walk with God, to be thorough, and unmistakable in our daily life — and to silence, if we cannot convert, a sneering world.

You live in times of peculiar spiritual danger. Never perhaps were there more traps and pitfalls in the way to Heaven. Never certainly were those traps so skillfully baited, and those pitfalls so ingeniously made. Mind what you are about. Look well to your goings. Ponder the paths of your feet.