Holiness

I am going to read J. C. Ryle's Holiness.  It has been sitting on my shelf for a while (as well as many other books), and it seems about time to read it.  Here is something from his preface which struck a chord with me:

"It is easy to get crowds together for what we called "higher life" and "consecration meetings.  Anyone knows that, who has watched human nature and read descriptions of American camp meetings and studied the curious phenomena of the "religious affections."  Sensational and exciting addresses by strange preachers or by women, loud singing, hot rooms, crowded tents, the constant sight of strong semi-religious feeling in faces of all around you for several days, late hours, long protracted meetings, public profession of experience-all this kind of thing is very interesting at the time and seems to do good.  But is the good real, deeply rooted, solid, lasting?  That is the point.  And I should like to ask a few questions about it.

"Do those who attend these meetings become more holy, meek, unselfish, kind, good-tempered, self-denying, and Christlike at home?  Do they become more content with their position in life, and more free from restless craving after something different from that which God has given them?  Do fathers, mothers, husbands, and other relatives and friends find them more pleasant and easy to live with?  Can they enjoy a quiet Sunday and quiet means of grace without noise, heat, and excitement?  Above all, do they grow in charity, and especially in charity toward those who do not agree with them in every jot and tittle of their religion?

 "These are serious and searching questions and deserve serious consideration.  I hope I am as anxious to promote real practical holiness in the land as anyone.  I admire and willingly acknowledge the zeal and earnestness of many with whom I cannot co-operate who are trying to promote it.  But I cannot withhold a growing suspicion that the great "mass meetings" of the present day, for the ostensible object of promoting spiritual life, do not tend to promote private home religion, private Bible reading, private prayer, private usefulness, and private walking with God.  If they are of any value, they ought to make people better husbands and wives and fathers and mothers and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and masters and mistresses and servants.  But I should like clear proofs that they do.  I only know it is far easier to be a Christian among singing, praying, sympathizing Christians in a public room, than to be a consistent Christian in a quiet, retired, out-of-the-way, uncongenial home."