J.C. Ryle is preaching on:
‘He lingered.’ -Genesis 19:16
“I bid you not to be slothful— not to be careless, not to be content with a small measure of grace— not be satisfied with being a little better than the world.
I solemnly warn you not to attempt doing what never can be done— I mean, to serve Christ, and yet keep in with the world.
I call upon you, and beseech you to be a whole-hearted Christian, to follow after eminent holiness, to aim at a high degree of sanctification, to live a consecrated life, to present your body a ‘living sacrifice’ unto God, to ‘walk in the Spirit.’ (Rom. 12:1; Gal. 5:25)
I charge you, and exhort you— by all your hopes of heaven, and desires of glory, if you would be happy, if you would be useful— do not be a lingering soul.
Would you know what the times demand? The shaking of nations— the uprooting of ancient things— the overturning of kingdoms— the stir and restlessness of men’s minds— what do they say? They all cry aloud— Christian! Do not linger!
Would you be found ready for Christ at His second appearing— your loins girded— your lamp burning- yourself bold, and prepared to meet Him? Then do not linger!
Would you enjoy much sensible comfort in your religion— feel the witness of the Spirit within you—know whom you have believed— and not be a gloomy, complaining, sour, downcast, and melancholy Christian? Then do not linger!
Would you enjoy strong assurance of your own salvation, in the day of sickness, and on the bed of death? Would you see with the eye of faith heaven opening, and Jesus rising to receive you? Then do not linger!
Would you leave great broad evidences behind you when you are gone? Would you like us to lay you in the grave with comfortable hope, and talk of your state after death without a doubt? Then do not linger!
Would you be useful to the world in your day and generation? Would you draw men from sin to Christ, adorn your doctrine, and make your Master’s cause beautiful and attractive in their eyes? Then do not linger!
Would you help your children and relatives towards heaven, and make them say, ‘We will go with you’? And not make them infidels and despisers of all religion? Then do not linger!
Would you have a great crown in the day of Christ’s appearing, and not be the least and smallest star in glory, and not find yourself the last and lowest in the kingdom of God? Then do not linger!
Oh, let not one of us linger! Time does not, death does not, judgment does not, the devil does not, the world does not. Neither let the children of God linger.
Does any reader of this paper feel that he is a lingerer? Has your heart felt heavy, and your conscience sore, while you have been reading these pages?
Does something within you whisper, ‘I am the man’? Then listen to what I am saying. It is not well with your soul. Awake, and try to do better.
If you are a lingerer, you must just go to Christ at once and be cured. You must use the old remedy; you must bathe in the old fountain. You must turn again to Christ and be healed. The way to do a thing is to do it. Do this at once?
Think not for a moment your case is past recovery. Think not, because you have been long living in a dry, sleepy, and heavy state of soul, that there is no hope of revival.
Is not the Lord Jesus Christ an appointed Physician for all spiritual ailments? Did He not cure every form of disease when He was upon earth?
Did not He cast out every kind of devil? Did He not raise poor backsliding Peter, and put a new song in his mouth?
Oh, doubt not, but earnestly believe that He will yet revive His work within you! Only turn from lingering, and confess your folly, and come! Come at once to Christ!
Blessed are the words of the prophet: ‘Only acknowledge thine iniquity.’ ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding.’ (Jeremiah 3:13, 22)”
–J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1879/2018), 216-218.
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