I ask my readers to observe how deeply thankful we ought to be for the glorious gospel of the grace of God. There is a remedy revealed for man’s need, as wide and broad and deep as man’s disease. We need not be afraid to look at sin, and study its nature, origin, power, extent, and vileness, if we only look at the same time at the almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in Jesus Christ. Though sin has abounded, grace has much more abounded.

– J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, (Peabody: Hendrickson, 2007), 11

If we have this for a foundation truth, that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us, there can be no danger in thorough dealing. It is better to go bruised to heaven than sound to hell. Therefore let us not take off ourselves too soon, nor pull off the plaster before the cure be wrought, but keep ourselves under this work till sin be the sourest, and Christ the sweetest, of all things.

– Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2008), 13

There is not a brick nor a stone laid in the work of our sanctification till we go to Christ.

– J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, (Peabody: Hendrickson, 2007), 62