J.C. Ryle on Public and Private Religion

At the time J.C. Ryle wrote these words there had been an increase in the number of public services and those attending.  Though he was excited by the multiplication of what he called "public religion" he gave a word of caution:

"While we are thankful for the increase of public religion, we must never forget that, unless it is accompanied by private religion, it is of no real solid value, and may even produce most mischievous effects.  Incessant running after sensational preachers, incessant attendance at hot crowded meetings, [prolonged] to late hours, incessant craving after fresh excitement and highly spiced pulpit novelties - all this kind of thing is calculated to produce a very unhealthy style of Christianity and, in many cases I am afraid, the end is utter ruin of soul.  For, unhappily, those who make public religion everything are often led away by mere temporary emotions, after some grand display of ecclesiastical oratory, into professing far more than they really feel.  After this, they can only be kept up to the mark, which they imagine they have reached, by a constant succession of religious excitements.  By and by, as with opium-eaters and dram-drinkers, there comes a time when their dose loses its power, and a feeling of exhaustion and discontent begins to creep over their minds.  Too often, I fear, the conclusion of the whole matter is a relapse into utter deadness and unbelief, and a complete return to the world.  And all results from having nothing but a public religion!  Oh, that people would remember that it was not the wind, or the fire, or the earthquake, which showed Elijah the presence of God, but 'the still small voice' (1 Kings 19:12).

"Now I desire to lift up a warning voice on this subject.  I want to see no decrease of public religion, remember; but I do want to promote an increase of that religion which is private - private between each man and his God.  The root of a plant or tree makes no show above ground.  If you dig down to it and examine it, it is a poor, dirty, coarse-looking thing and not nearly so beautiful to the eye as the fruit or leaf or flower.  But that despised root, nevertheless, is the true source of all the life, health, vigor and fertility which your eyes see, and without it the plant or tree would soon die.  Now private religion is the root of all vital Christianity.  Without it we may make a brave show in the meeting or on the platform, and sing loud, and shed many tears, and have a name to live and the praise of man.  But without it we have no wedding garment, and are 'dead before God.'  I tell my readers plainly that the times require of us all more attention to our private religion" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

J.C. Ryle: The Little Religion of Many Christians

"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, 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.

"Let us live in this way, and we shall be happy.  Let us live in this way, and we shall do good to the world.  Let us live in this way, and we shall leave good evidence behind us when we are buried.  Let us live in this way, and the Spirit's word to the churches will not have been spoken to us in vain."