Thoughts For Young Men by J.C. Ryle

The book is Thoughts For Young Men by J.C. Ryle. It was originally published in 1886. I read the Canon Press Heritage Edition paperback. I read it in February of 2023.  

The title is what the book is. An admonishment of young men with biblical advice against temptation and towards holiness.  

In college I read Holiness by Ryle. Great book. My friend at church, Matt Watson gave me this book. He had extra copies so he gave me one. It’s a short read 58 pages.  

Ryle is saying men should act like men. He understands the plight of young men, the temptations and pitfalls. He gives great biblical, doctrinally sound advice.  

This book reminds me a lot of John Owen’s book The Mortification of Sin. Just great biblical wisdom form a great man of God.  

I’d recommend this quick read to every Christian man. It’s great guidance for men to lead and pursue righteousness.  

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Notable Quotables 

You need to embrace your God-given sex, and live it out according to His design. Effeminate men go to hell (1 Cor. 6:9). To be a Christian, you must keep your manhood. Ryle got this. (p.iv Michael Foster introduction) 

the sons will follow no profession, and fritter away the most precious years of their life in doing nothing. (p4) 

Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow. (p6) 

And your enemy is cunning. For thousands of years he has been reading one book, and that book is the heart of man. He ought to know it well, and he does know it all its weakness, all its deceitfulness, all its folly. (p11) 

Young men, I want to save you all this sorrow, if I can. Hell itself is truth known too late. Be wise in time. What youth sows, old age must reap. Do not give the most precious season of your life to that which will not comfort you in the latter days of your life. (p13) 

What would you expect? Sin will not come to you, saying, “I am sin;” it would do little harm if it did. Sin always seems “good, and pleasant, and desirable,” at the time of commission (Gen. 3:6). Oh, get wisdom, get discretion! Remember the words of Solomon: “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm” (Prov. 4:26). (p23) 

Most men are like sheep: they follow a leader. If it was the fashion of the day to be Roman Catholics, they would be Roman Catholics; if it was to be Islamic, they would be Islamic. They dread the idea of going against the current of the times. In a word, the opinion of the day becomes their religion, their creed, their Bible, and their God. (p26) 

How many matters are transacted in the rooms of imagination, which would never bear the light of day! (p48)