Be Serious
July 25, 2023•120 words
Matthew Henry tells a story of a great statesman in Queen Elizabeth's time, who retired from public life in his latter days, and gave himself up to serious thought. His former gay companions came to visit him, and told him he was becoming melancholy: "No," he replied, "I am serious; for all are serious round about me. God is serious in observing us,—Christ is serious in interceding for us, the Spirit is serious in striving with us,—the truths of God are serious,—our spiritual enemies are serious in their endeavours to ruin us,—poor lost sinners are serious in hell;—and why then should not you and I be serious too?"
—J. C. Ryle. Thoughts for Young Men (Kindle Locations 304-308). Kindle Edition.