J.C. Ryle

Prepared to Stand Alone

Weight N/A
Dimensions N/A
ISBN 9781848716780
Binding

Paperback, Cloth-bound, eBook (ePub & Kindle), Paperback & eBook (ePub & Kindle), Cloth-bound & eBook (ePub & Kindle)

Format

Book

Topic

19th Century, History and Biography, Pastoral Biography

Page Count

296

Cloth-bound ISBN

9781848716780

Paperback ISBN

9781848716797

Original Pub Date

2016

Banner Pub Date

May 10, 2016

Endorsements

‘That man of granite with the heart of a child.’ — F. J. CHAVASSE

‘Ryle was at heart an evangelist.’ — MARCUS LOANE

‘Famous, outstanding and beloved exponent of the evangelical and reformed faith.’ — D. M. LLOYD-JONES

‘A single-minded Christian communicator of profound biblical, theological and pastoral wisdom, a man and minister of giant personal stature and electric force (‘unction’ was the old name for it).’ — J. I. PACKER

‘Bold as a lion for the truth of God’s Word and his Gospel.’ — RICHARD HOBSON

‘A friend of the Reformation and the Puritans, Ryle is a great example of a man willing to stand courageously yet humbly before his persecutors and detractors. A 19th century evangelical Anglican bishop, he was a gentle, persuasive, loving pastor who met his parishioners in the estate they were in without condemnation – a model for us all.’ — RUSSELL PULLIAM

Book Description

The life of J.C. Ryle has only to be heard once to be remembered. His 84 years (1816–1900) included remarkable contrasts—the promise of a fortune, then the poverty of a bankrupt; a Suffolk country pastor, then bishop of the leading seaport of the British Empire. But there was a still greater change—from the successful youth at Eton and Oxford, who did not pray or read his Bible till he was 21, to become a Christian ‘bold as a lion for the truth of God’s Word and his Gospel’.

Although one of the most widely read evangelical authors of the nineteenth century, Ryle’s writings lost influence after his death. The world had moved on, as was supposed. Then, fifty years later a ‘rediscovery’ began. Research on his life was accomplished by able authors, and from a new wealth of material Iain Murray has put together a compelling biography. Ryle believed in definite doctrine, in a message which does not adjust to the times, in revival, and in the living Christ. He knew that all the great turning points of church history have been attended with controversy, and that ‘there are times when controversy is not only a duty but a benefit’.

J.C. Ryle’s life is convincing evidence that Christianity stands or falls depending on its relation to the word of God and to the Holy Spirit. That he is being read widely again at the present time gives hope of better days.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

Illustrations ix
Introduction xi
1 Schooldays 1
2 ‘The Greatest Change and Event in My Life’ 13
3 Church and Homes Divided 25
4 All Doors Shut Except One 41
5 Peace Disturbed in Hampshire 53
6 Rural Suffolk: Stepping-Stone to the World 69
7 Puritans at Helmingham Rectory 91
8 Stradbroke: Twenty Fruitful Years 107
9 The Teacher 131
10 Liverpool 155
11 Standing Firm under Darkening Skies 177
12 The Last Years 197
13 What Does Ryle Say for Today? 215
Appendix 1 Extracts from Ryle 237
Appendix 2 Herbert E Ryle 249
Index 261

REVIEWs

8 testimonials for J.C. Ryle

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  1. Wally Leitel

    My order is in for this bio of J. C.Ryle by one of the best ever biographers, Iain Murray. I write briefly here now on Ryle the great preacher and to all that I have read of his via Banner of Truth…Ryle’s 7 volumes on the 4 gospels I read through and am into frequently, then many years ago Martyn Lloyd-Jones,having written me to read Ryle and all I could get my hands on by him and Spurgeon, I am so pleased I did…Ryle’s Practical Religion, Old Paths and Holiness, The Upper Room.all equally powerful writings and food for the very mind, heart & soul. Read Ryle. How happy I am after a new believer 50 years ago that providentially I was led to this so easy to read man, yet profound truths flowed from his penand as easy to read as Lloyd-Jones himself.

  2. Troy

    I first met Ryle as a young Christian teen. I came across by Providence his classic Holiness and was immediately transformed. I have read and reread his Thoughts for Young Men several times. Ryle has the great gift of writing on deep doctrine that even the simplest Christian can understand and remember. I thank God for this man and of similar men eg. Spurgeon his contemporary.

  3. Tom Radford

    Having spent most of my life in the company of this great man, I am thrilled that we have a new biography. Like Marcus Loane (‘From Strength to Strenth’ – A. M. Blanch, ps.36-7) I was arrested by the ‘Expository Thoughts’ in my late teens. I found these volumes compelling in a life-changing way. ‘Practical Religion’ and ‘Holiness’ are among those few books for which we must sell our shirts. Ryle leads us to love church history and to draw from the wisdom of the Puritans.

  4. Chad

    After reading ‘Holiness’ a couple of years ago, I was impressed at how practical and convicting it was to read. Therefore, it was this biography I asked my wife for this past Christmas and am thoroughly glad I did as I walk away from reading it even more impressed with how faithful Bishop Ryle was to our Lord Jesus Christ. How tough it is to take a stand for truth when everybody else around you compromises, but I’m certainly glad he did and his witness for Christ will continue to magnify until His coming. Thank you Banner of Truth for your faithfulness as well. God bless.

  5. Vaclav

    A really helpful biography about JC Ryle. I always enjoyed his writings, but now I’m even more interested to read his books. JC is faithful to the Scriptures and the reformation truth and so readable. It’s so good to get to know the person behind his teaching. And Iain Murray is one of my favorite biographers. Thank you!

  6. Richard Jones

    I have been reading J.C. Ryle for several years, I Have enjoyed Ian Murrary’s biography of Ryle, he gives a great condensed version of Ryle’s life,(considering Ryle’s Atuobiogorphy), Murrary also give a wonderful look into the times that Ryle lived and the religious things that had to be dealt with in the Church of England, as well as the Church as a whole. Things that effected his ministry and the Christian Faith, his vision, and the need to study and understand the Reformation as an important time in church history. I recommend Ian’s “Prepared to stand alone”, very highly and would say that all ministers of the faith should read and learn more of Ryles live and ministry.

  7. strangeduk

    A truly inspiring read. The title of the book, ‘Prepared To Stand Alone’, is a fitting hallmark Ryle’s life. Ryle suffered loss, faced opposition and difficulty while all the while the Lord sustained him by his grace. I find it quite helpful to read biographies of saints in order to see the man behind the classic works––’Holiness’ perhaps in Ryle’s case––for then I see that they are simply men who lived lives worthy of the calling they received in the power of the Holy Spirit, not of themselves.
    Iain Murray has been a great help to me in this area with his biographies and this is simply another one to add on to that growing list.

  8. Noah Radtke

    With a desire to read more biographies–specifically of saints who have gone before me–I can conclusively say that I started in a wonderful place by reading Murray’s biography on J.C. Ryle. Thoroughly encouraging and thought-provoking, I finished this book feeling blessed. It has now led me to dig deeper into Ryle’s thoughts and theology (I am currently reading Holiness for the first time, and I am using his Expository Thoughts on John with my personal Bible Study), and I cannot begin to say how thankful it has made me. God is good, and I am blessed!

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