Practical Religion – Self-Inquiry (Part 7) - John Charles Ryle

Let me now conclude with a few words of practical application.

(a) Is any reader of this paper asleep and utterly thoughtless about Christianity?

Oh, awake and sleep no more! Look at the churchyards and cemeteries. One by one the people around you are dropping into them, and you must lie there one day. Look forward to a world to come, and lay your hand on your heart, and say, if you dare, that you ready to die and meet God. Ah! You are like one sleeping in a boat drifting down the stream towards the falls of Niagara! “What meanest thou, oh sleeper! Arise and call on thy God!”–“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light!”” (Jonah 1:6; Ephesians 5:14).

(b) Is any reader of this paper feeling self-condemned, and afraid that there is no hope for his soul?

Cast aside your fears, and accept the offer of our Lord Jesus Christ to sinners. Hear Him saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” (John 7:37). Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).

Doubt not that these words are for you as well as for anyone else. Bring all your sins, and unbelief, and sense of guilt, and unfitness, and doubts, and infirmities–bring all to Christ. “This man receiveth sinners,” and He will receive you (Luke 15:2). Do not stand still, wavering between two opinions, and waiting for a convenient season. On your feet! He’s calling you. Come to Christ this very day (Mark 10:49).

(c) Is any reader of this paper a professing believer in Christ, but a believer without much joy and peace and comfort?

Take advice this day. Search your own heart, and see whether the fault is not entirely your own. Very likely you are sitting at ease, content with a little faith, and a little repentance, a little grace and a little sanctification, and unconsciously shrinking back from extremes. You will never be a very happy Christian at this rate, if you live to the age of Methuselah. Change your plan, if you love life and would see good days, without delay. Come out boldly, and act decidedly. Be thorough, thorough, very through in your Christianity, and set your face fully towards the sun. Lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset you. Strive to get nearer to Christ, to abide in Him, to cleave to Him, and to sit at His feet like Mary, and drink full draughts out of the fountain of life. “These things,” says St. John, “we write unto you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:4). “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” (1 John 1:7).

(d) Is any reader of this paper a believer oppressed with doubts and fears, on account of his feebleness, infirmity, and sense of sin?

Remember the text that says of Jesus, A bruised reed will He not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.” (Matthew 12:20). Take comfort in the thought that this text is for you. What though your faith be weak? It is better than no faith at all. The least grain of life is better than death. Perhaps you are expecting too much in this world. Earth is not heaven. You are yet in the body. Expect little from self, but much from Christ. Look more to Jesus, and less to self.

(e) Finally, is any reader of this paper sometimes downcast by the trials he meets with on the way to heaven, bodily trials, family trials, trials of circumstances, trials from neighbors, and trials from the world?

Look up to a sympathizing Savior at God’s right hand, and pour out your heart before Him. He can be touched with the feelings of your trials, for He Himself suffered when He was tempted.–Are you alone? So was He. Are you misrepresented and slandered? So was He. Are you forsaken by friends? So was He. Are you persecuted? So was He. Are you wearied in body and grieved in spirit? So was He. Yes! He can feel for you, and He can help as well as feel. Then learn to draw nearer to Christ. The time is short. Yet in a little while, and all will be over: we shall soon be “with the Lord”. “There is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18). “You have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come and will not tarry.” (Hebrews 10:36-37).

John Charles Ryle