“Another mark of ‘growth in grace’ is increase of charity. The man whose soul is ‘growing’ is more full of love every year,— of love to all men, but especially of love towards the brethren.
His love will show itself actively in a growing disposition to do kindnesses, to take trouble for others, to be good-natured to everybody, to be generous, sympathizing, thoughtful, tender-hearted, and considerate.
It will show itself passively in a growing disposition to be meek and patient toward all men, to put up with provocation and not stand upon rights, to bear and forbear much rather than quarrel.
A growing soul will try to put the best construction on other people’s conduct, and to believe all things and hope all things, even to the end.
There is no surer mark of backsliding and falling off in grace than an increasing disposition to find fault, pick holes, and see weak points in others.
Would any one know if he is growing in grace? Then let him look within for increasing charity…
Above all, I want all Christians to understand what they must expect in other believers. You must not hastily conclude that a man has no grace merely because you see in him some corruption.
There are spots on the face of the sun; and yet the sun shines brightly, and enlightens the whole world. There is quartz and dross mixed up with many a lump of gold that comes from Australia; and yet who thinks the gold on that account worth nothing at all?
There are flaws in some of the finest diamonds in the world; and yet they do not prevent their being rated at a priceless value. Away with this morbid squeamishness, which makes many ready to excommunicate a man if he only has a few faults!
Let us be more quick to see grace, and more slow to see imperfections!
Let us know that, if we cannot allow there is grace where there is corruption, we shall find no grace in the world. We are yet in the body.
The devil is not dead. We are not yet like the angels. Heaven has not yet begun. The leprosy is not out of the walls of the house, however much we may scrape them, and never will be till the house is taken down.
Our bodies are indeed the temple of the Holy Ghost, but not a perfect temple, until they are raised or changed. Grace is indeed a treasure, but a treasure in earthen vessels.
It is possible for a man to forsake all for Christ’s sake, and yet to be overtaken occasionally with doubts and fears.
I beseech every reader of this paper to remember this. It is a lesson worth attention. The Apostles believed in Christ, loved Christ, and gave up all to follow Christ. And yet you see in this storm the Apostles were afraid.
Learn to be charitable in your judgment of them. Learn to be moderate in your expectations from your own heart. Contend to the death for the truth, that no man is a true Christian who is not converted, and is not a holy man.
But allow that a man may be converted, have a new heart, and be a holy man, and yet be liable to infirmity, doubts, and fears.”
–J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1879/2018), 122, 274.
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