Be Not Content With A Little Religion

Richard Baxter A Christian Directory "Directions to Unconverted, Graceless Sinners"

If the devil cannot keep you from seeking reformation, he will seek to deceive you with a superficial change and half reformation. By a partial change he can persuade you that you are truly renewed and sanctified so you will advance no further. This is the true character of a self-deceived hypocrite. He is resolved to be a godly as will stand with a worldly, fleshly life.

J.C. Ryle Holiness "Visible Churches Warned"

http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/holiness15.htm

Of all sights in the church of Christ, I know none more painful to my own eyes, than a Christian contented and satisfied with a little grace, a little repentance, a little faith, a little knowledge, a little charity and a little holiness. I do beseech and entreat every believing soul that reads this tract — not to be that kind of man. If you have any desires after usefulness, if you have any wishes to promote your Lord's glory, if you have any longings after much inward peace — be not content with a little religion.

Let us rather seek, every year we live . . .

to make more spiritual progress than we have done;

to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus;

to grow in humility and self-acquaintance;

to grow in spirituality and heavenly-mindedness;

to grow in conformity to the image of our Lord.

Let us beware . . .

of leaving our first love, like Ephesus,

of becoming lukewarm, like Laodicea,

of tolerating false practices, like Pergamos,

of tampering with false doctrine, like Thyatira,

of becoming half dead and ready to die, like Sardis.

Let us rather covet the best gifts. Let us aim at eminent holiness Let us endeavor to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia. Let us hold fast what we have already, and continually seek to have more. Let us labor to be unmistakable Christians. Let it not be our distinctive character, that we are . . .

men of science,

or men of literary attainments,

or men of the world,

or men of pleasure,

or men of business

— but 'men of God'.

Let us so live that all may see that to us . . .

the things of God are the first things,

and the glory of God the first aim in our lives,

to follow Christ our grand object in time present,

to be with Christ our grand desire in time to come.