Practical Religion - Ryle - VI - Chapter 5 concluded

Required reading
Practical Religion by JC Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Conclude Chapter 5 (Bible reading) by reading from point 6 to the end of the chapter.

My summary
Today we finish the chapter on Bible reading by firstly hearing three more points that make the Bible unique:
VI. the Bible is the only standard by which all questions of doctrine or of duty can be tested;
VII. the Bible is the book which all true servants of God have always lived by and loved;
VIII. the Bible is the only book which can comfort a man in the last hours of his life.

Then Ryle addresses particular readers, those:
I. who can read, but never do read the Bible at all;
II. who are willing to begin reading the Bible, but want advice on how to begin;
III. who love and believe the Bible, and yet read it only a little;
IV. who read the Bible a lot, and yet believe they are no better because of their reading;
V. who really love the Bible, live upon the Bible, and read it regularly.

What grabbed me
The point addressed to those who love and believe the Bible but seldom read it was particularly insightful.  I'll include pretty much all of it:

'I fear there are many such people in this day. It is a day of hustle and hurry. It is a day of talking, and committee meetings, and public work. These things are all very well in their way, but I fear that they sometimes clip and cut short the private reading of the Bible. Does your conscience tell you that you are one of the persons I speak of? Listen to me, and I will say a few things which deserve your serious attention.

You are the man that is likely to "get little comfort from the Bible in time of need." Trials come at various times. Affliction is a searching wind, which strips the leaves off the trees, and exposes the birds’ nests. Now I fear that your stores of Bible consolations may one day run very low. I fear lest you should find yourself at last on very short allowance, and come into the harbor weak, worn and thin.

You are the man that is likely "never to be established in the truth." I will not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and questions about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, and the like. The devil is an old and cunning enemy. Like the Benjamites, he can "sling a stone at a hair and not miss" (Judges 20:16). He can quote Scripture easily enough when he pleases. Now you are not sufficiently ready with your weapons to be able to fight a good fight with him. Your armor does not fit well. Your sword sits loosely in your hand.

You are the man that is likely to "make mistakes in life." I will not wonder if I am told that you have erred about your own marriage—erred about your children’s education of spiritual things—erred about the conduct of your household—erred about the company you keep. The world you steer through is full of rocks, and reefs, and sand bars. You are not sufficiently familiar either with the search lights or your charts.

You are the man that is likely to "be carried away by some deceptive false teacher for a time." It will not surprise me if those clever, eloquent men, who can "make the lie appear to be the truth," is leading you into many foolish notions. You are out of balance. No wonder if you are tossed to and from, like a cork on the waves.'

So many in our churches would say that they love the Bible and believe the Bible, yet rarely read it.  To them I would say that Ryle's warnings should be heeded.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 6 (Going to the table).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.