"We may settle it in our minds, that there will be an entire change of opinion one day as to the necessity of decided Christianity. At present, we must all be aware, the vast majority of professing Christians care nothing at all about it. They have no sense of sin. They have no love towards Christ. They know nothing of being born again. Repentance, and faith, and grace, and holiness, are mere words and names to them. They are subjects which they either dislike, or about which they feel no concern. But all this state of things shall one day come to an end. Knowledge, conviction, the value of the soul, the need for a Savior, shall all burst on men's minds one day like a flash of lightning. But alas ! it will be too late. It will be too late to be buying oil, when the Lord returns. The mistakes that are not found out till that day are irretrievable. ….True Christians shall alone be found ready at the second advent. Washed in the blood of atonement, clothed in Christ's righteousness, renewed by the Spirit, they shall meet their Lord with boldness, and sit down at the marriage super of the Lamb, to go out no more. Surely this is a blessed prospect.
They shall be with their Lord,—with Him who loved them and gave Himself for them,—with Him who bore with them, and carried them through their earthly pilgrimage,—with Him, whom they loved truly and followed faithfully on earth, though with much weakness, and many a tear. Surely this also is a blessed prospect.
The door shall be shut at last—shut on all pain and sorrow,—shut on an illnatured and wicked world—shut on a tempting devil—shut on all doubts and fears—shut, to be opened again no more. Surely, we may again say, this is a blessed prospect…..Let us never rest till we know that we have the oil of the Spirit in our hearts."-John Charles Ryle, 1856
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