[Gutenberg 38162] • Practical Religion / Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians

We live in an age of particular spiritual danger. Never perhaps since the world began, was there such an immense amount of mere outward profession of religion, as there is in the present day. A painfully large proportion of all the congregations in the land consists of unconverted people, who know nothing of heart-religion, never come to the Lord's Table, and never confess Christ in their daily lives. Myriads of those who are always running after preachers, and crowding to hear special sermons — are nothing better than empty tubs, and tinkling cymbals — without a bit of real vital Christianity at home. The parable of the sower is continually receiving most vivid and painful illustrations. The way-side hearers, the stony-ground hearers, the thorny-ground hearers — abound on every side!

▶ CONTENTS

1\. Self-Inquiry

2\. Self-Exertion

3\. Reality

4\. A Call to Prayer

5\. Bible Reading

6\. The Lord's Supper

7\. Christian Love

8\. Christian Zeal

9\. Freedom

10\. Happiness

11\. Formal Religion

12\. The World

13\. Riches and Poverty

14\. The Best Friend

15\. Sickness

16\. The Family of God

17\. Our Home

18\. Heirs of God

19\. The Great Gathering

20\. The Great Separation

21\. Eternity

22\. Other Books

▶ AUTHOR

Ryle was a strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of Ritualism. He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher. Among his longer works are Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century (1869), Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (7 vols, 1856–69), Principles for Churchmen (1884). Ryle was described as having a commanding presence and vigorous in advocating his principles albeit with a warm disposition. He was also credited with having success in evangelizing the blue collar community. His second son, Herbert Edward Ryle also a clergyman, became Dean of Westminster.