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Let us be very careful that we never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or friend above the Word of God.
J. C. Ryle
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of prioritizing divine teachings over human influences.

J. C. Ryle's quote serves as a reminder that while ministers, sermons, books, and friends can provide valuable guidance, they should never take precedence over the teachings of the Word of God. It suggests that ultimate authority and truth should stem from divine scriptures rather than any human interpretation or contribution, encouraging individuals to maintain a focus on their faith.

Themes

FaithScripturePriorityTruthAuthority

In practice

Example use cases

In a sermon discussing the foundation of spiritual life.

More from J. C. Ryle

The minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor a charitable man.
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Good hymns are an immense blessing to the Church. They train people for heaven, where praise is one of the principal occupations.
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When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply this - that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual mindedness more marked.
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Those who confine God's love exclusively to the elect appear to me to take a narrow and contracted view of God's character and attributes....I have long come to the conclusion that men may be _x000D_ more systematic in their statements than the Bible, and may be led into grave error by idolatrous veneration of a system
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Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!
J. C. RyleRead
Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if it mattered not in what way such work was done. Let us carry with us faith, reverence, and prayer. If these three are our companions, we will hear with profit, and return with praise.
J. C. RyleRead

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