Let us read our Bibles in private more, and with more pains and diligence. Ignorance of Scripture is the root of all error, and makes a person helpless in the hand of the devil. There is less private Bible reading than there was fifty years ago. I never would have believed that so many men and women would have been tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, some falling into skepticism, some rushing into the wildest and narrowest fanaticism, and some going over to the Roman church. With many, there was a habit developed of lazy, superficial and careless reading of God's Word. 'You do err, not knowing the Scriptures" (Matt. 22:29). The Bible in the pulpit must never supersede the Bible at home.

- J. C. Ryle

Read the Bible daily. Make it part of your everyday business to read and meditate on some portion of God's Word. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst, part of your time. But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and the Bible every day.

- J. C. Ryle

The Bible must be your chart and you must exercise great watchfulness that your way may be according to its directions. Even with the greatest of care, a man will still go astray if his map misleads him. But with the most accurate map, he will still lose his way if he does not take heed to it. The narrow way was never found by chance, neither did any careless man ever lead a holy life. We can sin without thought and neglect the great salvation and ruin our souls, but to obey the Lord and walk uprightly will need all our heart, soul and mind. Let the careless one remember this.