IGNORANT FORMAL CHRISTIANITY-J.C. RYLE

I am convinced that one of our grave defects today, is a most serious diminishing of the good old custom of private reading of the Bible.  Between the growth of Christian periodicals and books, I have a strong impression that Bibles are not read as much and as carefully as they were two hundred years ago. Neglect of the Bible, is like disease of the body–it shows itself in the face of a man’s conduct.  It tells its own tale.  It cannot be hidden. I fear that many neglect the Bible–because of the enormous ignorance of true religion which everywhere prevails. There are thousands of professing Christians in this country, who know literally nothing about the Gospel. They could not give you the slightest account of its distinctive doctrines. They have no more idea of the true meaning of conversion, grace, faith, justification, and sanctification–than of so many words and names written in Arabic! And can I suppose that such people search the Scriptures? I cannot suppose it.  I do not believe they do! I fear that many neglect the Bible–because of the utter indifference with which they regard false doctrine–as if it did not signify much, and was all the same thing in the long run–whether one was a Roman Catholic, or a Socinian, or a Mormonite, or a Deist, or an Agnostic. And can I suppose that such people search the Scriptures? I cannot suppose it.  I do not believe they do! I fear that many neglect the Bible–because of the readiness with which they receive false teaching. They are led astray by the first false prophet they meet with, who “comes in sheep’s clothing,” and has a pleasant voice, a nice manner, and a gift of eloquent speech! They swallow all that he says without inquiry, and believe him as implicitly as papists believe the Pope! And can I suppose that such people search the Scriptures? I cannot suppose it. I do not believe they do! I declare my firm conviction, that an idle neglect of the Bible is one cause of the ignorant formal Christianity which is so widely prevalent in these latter days! Brethren! We are drifting, drifting, drifting–and what the end will be–no man can tell.

ASSURANCE---THOMAS WATSON

We cannot come amiss to him that hath assurance---God is his. 

Hath he lost a friend?---his Father lives. 

Hath he lost an only child?---God hath given him His only Son. 

Hath he scarcity of bread?---God hath given him the finest of the wheat, the bread of life. 

Are his comforts, gone?---he hath a Comforter. 

Doth he meet with storms?---he knows where to put in for harbor. 

God is his Portion, and heaven is his haven. 

--Thomas Watson. 1662.

PREACHING WITH SERIOUSNESS AND POWER---RICHARD BAXTER

                

                          “Preachers cannot quicken the dead, but they can be used to arouse those at ease in Zion.”

How few ministers do preach with all their might!  Alas, we speak so drowsily or gently, that sleepy sinners cannot hear.  The blow falls so light that hard-hearted sinners cannot feel.  The most of ministers will not so much as exert their voice, and stir up themselves to an earnest utterance.  But if they do speak loud and earnestly, how few do answer it with weight and earnestness of matter!  And yet without this, the voice does little good.

It would grieve one to the heart to hear what excellent doctrine some ministers have in hand, while yet they let it die in their hands for lack of close and lively application.  In the name of God, brethren, labor to awaken your own hearts, before you go into the pulpit.  A sleepy preacher will hardly awaken drowsy sinners.  Though you give the holy things of God the highest praise in words, yet, if you do it coldly, you will seem by your manner to unsay what you said in the matter.

Though I move you not to constant loudness in your delivery (for that will make your fervency contemptible), yet see that you have a constant seriousness; and when the matter requires it, then lift up your voice, and spare not your spirits.  Oh, speak not one cold or careless word about so great a business as heaven or hell.

I confess I must speak it by lamentable experience, that I publish to my flock the distempers of my own soul.  When I let my heart go cold, my preaching is cold.  And so I can oft observe also in the best of my hearers that when I have grown cold in preaching, they have grown cold too.  Oh brethren, watch therefore over your own hearts: keep out lusts and passions, and worldly inclinations; keep up the life of faith, and love, and zeal; be much at home, and much with God.  A minister should take special pains with his heart, before he is to go to the congregation; if it be cold, how is he likely to warm the hearts of his hearers?  Therefore, go then specially to God for life!

                                                                        ******

“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (I Corinthians 2:3-5).   THE APOSTLE PAUL

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (I Timothy 4:15-16).   THE APOSTLE PAUL

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).   THE APOSTLE PAUL

(Thanks W.F. Bell for this Baxter excerpt written in 1656. He was a master of preaching in his time).