[Holiness, J. C. Ryle] On the Times of His Day

Holiness by J. C. Ryle ought to be read by every Christian who knows English. Period. I believe that so strongly if you buy the book, finish reading it, and still don’t like it, I’ll reimburse you the cost of the book.

You can read a short blog post here on why this book is such a classic.

Ryle wrote the book almost 140 years ago, yet it’s still as relevant and readable today as ever. The following quote is Ryle describing 19th century England; it might as well have been written in America yesterday. Enjoy.

There is an amazing ignorance of Scripture among many, and a consequent want of established, solid religion. In no other way can I account for the ease with which people are, like children, “tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). There is an Athenian love of novelty abroad, and a morbid distaste for anything old and regular and in the beaten path of our forefathers. Thousands will crowd to hear a new voice and a new doctrine, without considering for a moment whether what they hear is true. There is an incessant craving after any teaching which is sensational, and exciting, and rousing to the feelings. There is an unhealthy appetite for a sort of spasmodic and hysterical Christianity. The religious life of many is little better than spiritual dram-drinking, and the “meek and quiet spirit” which St. Peter commends is clean forgotten (1 Pet. 3:4). Crowds, and crying, and hot rooms, and high-flown singing, and an incessant rousing of the emotions, are the only things which many care for. Inability to distinguish differences in doctrine is spreading far and wide, and so long as the preacher is “clever” and “earnest,” hundreds seem to think it must be all right, and call you dreadfully “narrow and uncharitable” if you hint that he is unsound!”

Holiness, J. C. Ryle, Pages xxxiiii to xxxiv, 1879