About a year ago I subscribed to a great publication called Christianity Yesterday. It's a great magazine that is "...dedicated to the furtherance of the Gospel through the publication of historical Christian literature that has practical relevance to the Church today."
In the latest edition, the Christian Biography is of John Charles Ryle. Here is a brief excerpt from J.C. Ryle on The Remedy for Today, followed by a couple of links to other Ryle material on the net. This was written in 1868:
"Wherein do evangelical churchmen fall short of their great predecessors of the last century? Let us look this question fairly in the face. Let us come to particulars. They come short in doctrine. They are neither so full, nor so distinct, nor so bold, nor so uncompromising. They are afraid of strong statements. They are too ready to fence, and guard, and qualify all their teaching, as if Christ's gospel was a little baby, and could not be trusted to walk alone. They fall short as preachers. They have neither the fervor, nor fire, nor thought nor illustration, nor directness, nor holy boldness, nor grand simplicity of language which characterized the last century. Above all, they fall short in life. They are not men of one thing, separate from the world, unmistakable men of God, ministers of Christ everywhere, indifferent to man's opinion, regardless who is offended, if they only preach truth, always about their Father's business. They do not make the world feel that a prophet is among them, and carry about with them their Master's presence, as Moses when he came down from the mount. I write these things with sorrow. I desire to take my full share of the blame. But I do believe I am speaking the truth."