Religion without the Cross.
By J. C. Ryle.
Reader! as long as you live, beware of a religion in which there is not much of the cross. You live in times when the warning is sadly needful. Beware, I say again, of a religion without the cross. There are hundreds of places of worship, in this day, in which there is everything almost except the cross. There is carved oak and sculptured stone. There is stained glass and brilliant painting. There are solemn services and a constant round of ordinances. But the real cross of Christ is not there. Jesus crucified is not proclaimed in the pulpit. The Lamb of God is not lifted up, and salvation by faith in Him is not freely proclaimed. And hence all is wrong. Reader, beware of such places of worship. They are not apostolical. They would not have satisfied St. Paul. There are thousands of religious books published in our times, in which there is everything except the cross. They are full of directions about sacraments and praises of the Church. They abound in exhortations about holy living, and rules for the attainment of perfection. They have plenty of fonts and crosses both inside and outside. But the real cross of Christ is left out.—The Saviour and his dying love are either not mentioned, or mentioned in an unscriptural way. And hence they are worse than useless. Reader, beware of such books.—They are not apostolical. They would never have satisfied St. Paul. Reader, St. Paul gloried in nothing but the cross. Strive to be like him. Set Jesus crucified fully before the eyes of your soul. Listen not to any teaching which would interpose between you and him.—Do not fall into the old Galatian error.—Think not that any one in this day is a better guide than the Apostles. Do not be ashamed of the old paths, in which men walked who were inspired by the Holy Ghost. Let not the vague talk of men, who speak great swelling words about catholicity, and the Church, and103the ministry, disturb your peace, and make you loose your hands from the cross. Do not give Christ's honor to another. "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."—J. C. Ryle.