8. A man may tremble at the word of God, and yet
be but an almost a christian,

A twofold trembling,

7. A man may delight in the word and ordinances,
and yet be but an almost christian,

Eighthly, a man may be a member of the church of
Christ, and yet be but almost a christian,
Ninthly, A man may have great hopes of heaven,
and yet be but almost a christian,

Tenthly, A man may be under visible changes, and
yet be but almost a Christian,

A threefold change may be, when as yet the soul is
not renewed,
Eleventhly, Aman may be very zealous in matters of

religion, and yet be but almost a christian.
Several kinds of zeal, none of them true and sound,
Twelfthly, A man may be much in prayer, and yet
be but almost a christian.

What prayers speak a man an altogether christian,
What prayers speak a man an almost christian,
Whether the stirring of the affections in prayer argues
the truth of prayer,

Thirteenthly, A man may suffer for Christ and yet be
but almost a christian,

What suffering for Christ is a note of sincerity,
What suffering for Christ is the suffering as a chris-
tian,

Fourteenthly, A man may be called of God and em-
brace his call, and yet be but an almost chris-
tian,
Fifteenthly, A man may have the Spirit of God,

and yet be but almost a christian,

102

There is a having the Spirit which is a sure mark
of saintship,

102

Every man that hath the Spirit, hath it not in this

manner,

103

Sixteenthly, A man may have faith, and yet be but

almost a christian,

105

Saving faith, what called,

106

Common faith, what

Seventeenthly, A man may have a love to the peo-
ple of God, and yet be but almost a christian,

107

110

What difference between a natural conscience and

What love to the children of God is a true love,
For what an almost christian loves a saint,

His love carnal,

Eighteenthly, a man may obey the commands of
God, and yet be but almost a christian,
True obedience hath a threefold property, it is evan-
gelical, universal, continual,

Nineteenthly, A man may be sanctified, and yet be
but almost a christian,

Twentiethly, A man may do all (as to external duties
and worship) that a true christian can, and yet
be but almost a christian,

Wherein the difference between them doth lie,
Quest. 2. Whence it is that many go far, and yet no
farther!

a renewed conscience? Answered in several
particulars,

Quest. 3. Whence is it that many are but almost
christians, when they have gone thus far?

For want of right conviction,

How to know whether our conviction is only from a
natural conscience, or from the spirit,
Spiritual conviction an essential part of sound con-

111

113

114

114

115

119

122

122

128

133

147

147

148

version,

152

Slight and common convictions are the cause of
great hypocrisy,

153

Quest. 4. What is the reason that many go no farther

in the profession of religion, than to be almost
christians!

157

1. It is because a man mistakes his own state and
condition,

157

Five rises of this mistake,

158

Four reasons more, why it is many go no further
than to be almost christians,

182

Application.

1. Inference, Salvation is not so easy a thing as it

2. Inference, what shall be the end of them who fall

short of these?

169

1. Use of Examination,

Two questions we should often put to ourselves,

What am I ! Where am I?

Cogent arguments for self-examination,

Quest. How shall I come to know whether I am an
almost or an altogether christian? Answered in
eight particJars,

2. Use of Caution.

To take heed of being almost, and yet but an almost
christian,

This condition, of all others, greatly unprofitable, ex-
ceedingly uncomfortable, desperately danger-

ous,

3. Use of Exhortation.

To be not only almost, but altogether christians,
under which are five motives,

Directions for obtaining a thorough work in the heart,
the being not only almost but altogether chris-
tians,

170

171

172

175

182

182

196

213