But if any one cannot pacify his mind by disregarding death, let him know that he has made as yet but very little proficiency in the faith of Christ; for as extreme fear is owing to ignorance as to the grace of Christ, so it is a certain evidence of unbelief.
-John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews
“(1.) When we have received gospel truths into our minds, we are in danger of letting them slip. Our minds and memories are like a leaky vessel, they do not without much care retain what is poured into them; this proceeds from the corruption of our natures, the enmity and subtlety of Satan (he steals away the word), from the entanglements and snares of the world, the thorns that choke the good seed. (2.) Those meet with an inconceivable loss who let gospel truths, which they had received, slip out of their minds; they have lost a treasure far better than thousands of gold and silver; the seed is lost, their time and pains in hearing lost, and their hopes of a good harvest lost; all is lost, if the gospel be lost. (3.) This consideration should be a strong motive both to our attention to the gospel and our retention of it; and indeed, if we do not well attend, we shall not long retain the word of God; inattentive hearers will soon be forgetful hearers.”
- Matthew Henry, commenting on Hebrews 2:1-4
After many email requests for me to upload some J.C. Ryle pdf’s, well ok, actually that’s not true, there was only one comment request (thanks Interface!). But one was all it took!
There are now J.C. Ryle pdf downloadable books on the Free Puritan Works page. If you are unfamiliar with Ryle, you can get a taste of him at the J.C. Ryle Quotes site and then once you’re hooked, you can start, no you get to start downloading his books.
Remember, friends don’t let friends not read the dead guys! At least Christian friends anyway.
