Bishop J C Ryle’s Autobiography, The Early Years, edited by Andrew Atherstone, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, hardback, 387 pages, £15.50, obtainable from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
Ryle is best known as the forceful writer of such highly-profitable books as Holiness and Practical Religion. When he was 57, in 1873, he dictated an account of his life for the benefit of his children. An edition of the autobiography was published in 1976, but it was a copy of a copy, and therefore there were problems with the accuracy of the transcription. But at the end of 2015 the original manuscript was rediscovered, among the archives of one of the Bishop’s descendants; it was used for this edition.
Most of Ryle’s account of his life is interesting, but the details of his family background, which occupies the first chapter, quickly become tedious. No attempt is made, in this review, to summarise Ryle’s early life, as described in the autobiography; this was done in a review article on a recent biography by Iain H Murray, published in the March issue of this Magazine. For those new to Ryle’s life, this biography is where they should start.
The actual autobiography, in fact, occupies less than half of this new volume; seven appendices take up the rest of the space. The first appendix, describing the entries in the Ryle family Bible, are not of much general interest. Likewise the speeches given by Ryle at the Eton Society, when he was still unconverted, can be passed over without much loss, except that they demonstrate his considerable speaking ability, which was to be shown, in later life, in his preaching and writing.
Appendix 5, “Ryle’s Earliest Tracts”, is much more profitable. At one time, Ryle was probably best known as a writer of tracts. It was estimated that 12 million copies of them were produced in his lifetime. Some of these tracts were collected into volumes that are still appreciated today. Five of Ryle’s earliest tracts are published here; they are very impressive, pointed pieces of writing. One was produced following a tragic accident at Yarmouth. Crowds had gathered to watch a stunt performed on the North River to promote a circus. Far too many people congregated on a bridge, which collapsed and 79 people were drowned. Ryle asked his readers to consider where they would now be if they have been among those suddenly called away to eternity. He called on them to consider their ways, to “repent and be converted”.
Other tracts were much longer. One first directed to his own people at the 1846 New Year, ran to 6000 words (approximately 12 pages of this Magazine). Among many other points, he exhorted readers (and himself): “Let us begin . . . with a humble confession of past unprofitableness and shortcomings”, “Let us be on our guard against false doctrine”, “Let us resolve to make conscience of little things in our daily religion”. His new year tract for 1847 was even longer, containing 10 000 words. To show how directly these tracts were based on Scripture, the Editor has given the reference for every quotation and allusion in them; the 1846 tract contains almost 160 references.
Also included is the sermon Ryle preached on the Sabbath following the death of his first wife. Practical as always, Ryle highlighted from his text, Hebrews 6:12, words of (1) warning, (2) encouragement, (3) quickening, (4) instruction, (5) duty. He addressed “undecided souls” as “having too much religion to be happy in the world, and keeping too much of the world to be happy in your religion”. And he expressed the hope that “the events of the last few days might convince you that this world is but a shadow and the world to come the reality – that the things seen are all passing away, and Christ and the Word the only portion which will never change!”
Ryle, having served his own generation by the will of God, has long since passed away, in 1900. We are to seek to serve God in our generation and we would wish that, with God’s blessing, Ryle’s writings, including those in this book, may be used as a means of helping us to do so.