ACTS xxvi. 28.
_Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._
AND many there are who go _thus far_: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation, who were _almost persuaded to be Christians_. But seeing it avails nothing before God, to go _only thus far_, it highly imports us to consider,
_First_, What is implied in being _almost_,
_Secondly_, What, in being _altogether a Christian_.
I.) 1. Now, in the being _almost a Christian_ is implied, first Heathen honesty. No one, I suppose, will make any question of this; especially, since by Heathen honesty here, I mean, not that which is recommended in the writings of their philosophers only, but such as the common Heathens expected of one another, and many of them actually practised. By the rules of this they were taught, that they ought not to be unjust; not to take away their neighbour’s goods, either by robbery or theft: not to oppress the poor, neither to use extortion toward any: not to cheat or over-reach either the poor or rich, in whatsoever commerce they had with them: to defraud no man of his right, and, if it were possible, to owe no man any thing.
2. Again, the common Heathens allowed, that some regard was to be paid to truth as well as to justice. And accordingly, they not only held him in abomination, who was forsworn, who called God to witness to a lie; but him also, who was known to be a slanderer of his neighbour, who falsly accused any man. And indeed little better did they esteem wilful liars of any sort, accounting them the disgrace of human kind, and the pests of society.
3. Yet again, there was a sort of love and assistance, which they expected one from another. They expected whatever assistance any one could give another, without prejudice to himself. And this they extended, not only to those little offices of humanity, which are performed without any expence or labour: but likewise, to the feeding the hungry, if they had food to spare, the clothing the naked, with their own superfluous raiment; and in general, the giving to any that needed, such things as they needed not themselves. Thus far (in the lowest account of it) Heathen honesty went; the first thing implied in the being _almost a Christian_.
II.) 4. A second thing implied in the being _almost a Christian_, is the having a form of Godliness, of that Godliness which is prescribed in the gospel of Christ: the having the _outside of a real Christian_. Accordingly, the _almost Christian_ does nothing which the gospel forbids. He taketh not the name of God in vain: he blesseth and curseth not; he sweareth not at all, but his communication is yea, yea; nay, nay. He profanes not the day of the Lord, nor suffers it to be profaned, even by the stranger that is within his gates. He not only avoids all actual adultery, fornication, and uncleanness, but every word or look, that either directly or indirectly tends thereto: nay, and all idle words, abstaining both from detraction, backbiting, tale-bearing, evil-speaking, and from _all foolish talking and jesting_, εὐτραπελία, a kind of virtue in the Heathen moralist’s account. Briefly, from all conversation that is not _good to the use of edifying_, and that consequently _grieves the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption_.
5. He abstains from _wine wherein is excess_, from revellings and gluttony. He avoids, as much as in him lies, all strife and contention, continually endeavouring to live peaceably with all men. And if he suffer wrong, he avengeth not himself, neither returns evil for evil. He is no railer, no brawler, no scoffer, either at the faults or infirmities of his neighbour. He does not willingly wrong, hurt, or grieve any man; but in all things acts and speaks by that plain rule, _Whatsoever thou wouldst not he should do unto thee, that do not thou to another_.
6. And in doing good, he does not confine himself to cheap and easy offices of kindness, but labours and suffers for the profit of many, that by all means he may help some. In spite of toil or pain, _Whatsoever his hand findeth to do, he doeth it with his might_: whether it be for his friends, or for his enemies; for the evil, or for the good. For being _not slothful in this_, or in any _business, as he hath opportunity he doth good_, all manner of good _to all men_; and to their souls as well as their bodies. He reproves the wicked, instructs the ignorant, confirms the wavering, quickens the good, and comforts the afflicted. He labours to awaken those that sleep, to lead those whom God hath already awakened, to the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, that they may wash therein and be clean; and to stir up those who are saved through faith, to adorn the gospel of Christ in all things.