How Readest Thou?

by J.C. Ryle

J.C. Ryle writes about one of his favourite themes——the Holy Bible. In this booklet he defends the doctrine of inspiration and then makes application by charging the reader to search the Scriptures. As only Ryle could say, “It is still the first book which fits the child’s mind when he begins to learn religion, and the last to which the old man clings as he leaves the world.”

Genres: Theology, Christian Living, Christianity

68 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.

Reviews

[Dustin Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book. A must read. I couldn't put it down. What I didn't feel in personal conviction I felt in grief for the one who doesn't read God's word. If you are a man of God, pick up this book and read it. Oh, how I will continually live in the remembrance of the question: How Readest Thou?

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you aren't reading your Bible, this will make you want to read it. And if you are reading your Bible, this will make you understand why you are reading it.

[KC McCauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his typical fashion, J.C. Ryle challenges us and exhorts us to read our Bibles!

[Becca Lemmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Let us resolve to read the Bible more and more every year we live. Let us try to get it rooted in our memories, and engrafted into our hearts. Let us be thoroughly well provisioned with it against the voyage of death. Who knows but we may have a very stormy passage? Sight and hearing may fail us, and we may be in deep waters. Oh! to have the word hid in our hearts in such an hour as that!”

“Let us resolve to be more watchful over our Bible-reading every year that we live. Let us be jealously careful about the time we give to it, and the manner that time is spent. Let us beware of omitting our daily reading without sufficient cause. Let us not be gaping, and yawning, and dozing over our book, while we read.
Let us read like a wife reading a husband's letter from a distant land. Let us be very careful that we never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or tract, or friend, above the word.
Oh! to read with a hungry spirit, and a simple desire for edification!”

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Joshua Rosas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very encouraging. A must read for all who seek to deepen their understanding of the importance of the Bible — especially in regards to their spiritual growth.

[youMUSTbebornagain john 3.16-21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"you are in danger, because there is not a single reasonable excuse you can allege for neglecting the Bible." page 54.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best motivation I’ve read to faithfully read my Bible. This is available for free online! Just do a quick google search

[Will Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. worth reading again.

"The handwriting may vary, but the mind that runs through their work is always one and the same. They all tell the same story. They all give one account of man, one account of God, one account of the way of salvation, once account of the heart." 7

"A church which does not honour the Bible is as useless as a body without life, or a steam engine without fire. A minister who does not honour the Bible is as useless as a soldier without arms, a builder without tools, a pilot without compass, or a messenger without tidings." 23-24

"To have the Bible is one thing, and to read it quite another." 33

"Tell me what the Bible is to a man, and I will generally tell you what he is." 42

"Although men may seem to get on comfortably without the Bible while they live, they may be sure that without the Bible they cannot comfortably die." 49

"It is not want of time, but waste of time that ruins souls." 52

[Omri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books that I have read contain a more God-exalting discussion on the nature of God's word than this one. The more I read Ryle, the more I admire him. This will probably be the first book that I try to put into the hands of new converts. This is one of the very few extra-biblical books that I think every Christian should read if possible. I am amazed what a thorough defense of Scripture's power and authority Ryle gives is so few pages. I have been greatly encouraged to increase my longing for the Word after having read this book.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great. Let my reading of it not be barren!