'Sickness' by JC Ryle

I'm a bit blog-rusty after basically only visiting this blog a few times over the last several years, so I only just figured out how to fix the widget at the top of the right column. There I was falsely promising a free first chapter of a book on Encouragement that I wrote many moons ago, but the link was long dead. 

(You can still pick up a copy of that book here if you want. The basic message is still one I believe and you may find it a subject that is of help. There's also a course that goes with it that some churches have used over the years.)

But that's not what this post is about. I've now changed the widget to link to a different booklet.

"I invite you to look with me at the subject of sickness. The subject is one which we ought to look in the face frequently. We cannot avoid it. We don’t need to have a prophet’s eye to see sickness coming to each of us in turn one day. “In the midst of life we are in death.” Let us pause and think about sickness as Christians. Thinking about it will not hasten its coming, and by God’s blessing may even teach us wisdom."

—From J C Ryle. Sickness (Kindle Locations 38-41). Matthias Media.  

This is a really good, brief and pastorally minded treatment of the subject of sickness and its relationship to death and the grace and providence of God. Won't take you long to read, and there is much of value in it to contemplate when you are sick.

JC Ryle was a 19th century bishop of Liverpool in England, yet his language is clear and blunt. Charles Dickens it ain't, he was writing for communication and not literary entertainment. Hey, Charles Dickens is great but you can watch screen versions of that on a streaming service these days. JC Ryle, not so much, you still have to read the words.

You can pick up a slightly language-updated version from the wonderful people at Matthias Media, here (in e-format as well). It's useful to have a physical copy or three because you can have them available as a resource at your church, or to give to friends who might benefit from it. Not me thanks, I've already read it several times. It's really good and gives you a lot to think about.

If however you want to be a cheapskate like me and read it for free, in slightly olde-worldier language but still really good and direct, then check it out here. In that 19th century version it's called Some Thoughts on Affliction. If you understand that title then you'll have no trouble at all understanding the rest of Ryle's text.

Oh and if that all sounds worth chasing up and reading, then while we're on the subject of straight-talking 19th century Bible preachers check out Charles Spurgeon's article on Depression, or as he titled it, The Minister's Fainting Fits (also free). He spent much of his life in the throes of depression and knew what he was talking about.