Fresh from the miraculous sight of their beloved Master ascending into heaven, and with the message of angels regarding His future return still ringing in their ears, Jesus’ followers returned from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem and went at once “into an upper room” (Acts 1:13). This was the first meeting place of Christians for worship and the forerunner of every church and cathedral in Christendom in the last two thousand years.Thus begins the sweep of doctrinal topics in this collection of sermons and lectures by Bishop J. C. Ryle. Despite having been written a century ago, their robust evangelical doctrine and down-to-earth application give them an astonishingly contemporary ring. With a vibrant tone and an occasional flash of humor, Ryle’s evangelistic zeal and tender pastoral concern engage the reader’s attention.