many oome up, 1111 it were, to the door, but do not enter in. There a.re Rmonget us many-very many-who a.re only almost Christians. I. Wao AMONG us MAY WE THINK OF AS ONLY ALMOST CHRISTIANS? 1. The ohild of pious parents, surrounded by gracious influences, led to the house of God, the child of many prayers, growing up to manhood or womanhood, yet not wholly Christ's to-day; 2. The regular attendant at Christian services; often moved to tears, and, it may be, to some passing resolves ; but emotions pass, decision is delayed, and they are only almost Ohristians yet. 3. There may even be aged people trembling down to life's close, who, having put off religious decision again and again, seem now unable to make the effort., and are in peril of dying only almost Christians. 4. There are parents who b11.ve converted children, but a.re themselves the old side of the border-land, yet in "trespasses and sins." 5. There a.re those who have been aroused to religio\18 anxiety, but whose experience, varying for years, has never yet risen to full surrender. Each of these classes may be described with precise adapt.ation to the congregation addressed. II. WHAT REASONS OAN BE FOm'D FOR so MANY REMAINING ONLY ALMOST CrrRis- TIANB? In the case of Agrippa the message seemed novel and strange, and there seemed excuse for requiring time to think it over. In our case the message may seem old and familiar, and it may have lost its awakening and persuading power. Some- times the hindrance is: 1. Intellectual. It may be some perplexity or difficulty in relation to Uhristian doctrine. Or it may be the influence of the intellectual tone of the society in which a man mingles. 2. Or the hindrnnce may be lack of sufficient motive: especially an inadequate impression of the evil and peril of sin. To use a figure, the boat lies rocking just outside the harbour bar, and there is not wave enough to lift it over. Therefore must the true preacher find motive and persuasion, urging, in Christ's stead., "Be ye reconciled unto God." 3. But the chief hindrances are moral, It was Agrippa's self-indulgent and immoral life which really turned the shafts a.side. The pride of self stands in our way. Decision for Christ involves surrender-a. giving up of that "self-reliance" which is so dear to flesh and blood. Illustrate from the story of. the young rich rule: ; and recall our Lord's teachings about the " strait gate and the narrow way." This may be the reason why we are not "altogether" Christians, There is a cable holding under the water somewhere, and the ship cannot float out free into the ocean of God. illustrate some cables. The last to yield is usually feeling ; we wait for feeling, and, waiting, let the golden hours of opportunity slip by. IIL WHAT REALLY IS IT TO BE ONLY .ALMOST PERSUADED? See it in the estimate we form of Agrippa's character. He is utterly weak and ignoble. We admire the confessor and the martyr; we scorn the hesitating and indecisive-such as Reuben, " unstable as water." The people at Athens very properly ordained that every one should be fined who would take neither side in politics. It is a condition which dis- honours God more than open rebellion, because it assumes that there really are some considerations to be set against his claims, some reasons why we should not love and serve him. And such indecision effectually shuts us out from the benefits of the gospel provision. The" almost Christian" has (1) no sense of pardoned sin; (2) no joy of peace with God; (3) no strength from the consciously present Saviour; (4) no title to the everlasting heritage. Impress that in religious matters there really is no border- land. Illustrate by the story of the wreck of the Royal Charter. The fore part !edged on a rock, the back part, flapped by the waves, broke away and sank in deep water with all that were in it. Just at the moment of parting a young man stood on the hinder pa.rt, and made a leap for dear life. He was saved, for he could decide and ac~. Then plead, as St. Paul pleaded, that, whether by little persuasion or by much, men would end their state of indecision, and become a.lt.ogether Christ's.-R. T.
EXPOSITION. 1 band, A. V. That we llhould B&il. Observe OHAPTER XXVIl. the "we," denoting that Luke ,was of Ver. 1.-Forforinto,A.V.; toacentvrion the party. Connecting it with the,•• wp" SllfMd Julwa of t1ie .AugUBtan band for unto of eh. xxi. 17, the inference is . o:ibviollll one mlllAed ltili.u, a cent~ of .411fU•tui that L~e was with Paul t.hrougq. tb,o en. :,:xvn. 1-44.J THE AOTS OF THE APOSTLES. 291