The Almost Christian Discovered, Table of contents – Printer to the reader
The Contents.
THe ſcope of the Chapter, pag. 1
The coherence of the Text, pag. 3, 4
The ſenſe and meaning of the words pag. 4, 5, 6, 7
The Doctrine propounded, viz. That there are very many in the world that are almoſt and yet but almoſt Chriſtians. pag. 9
Two things ariſe from hence of ſerious meditation. pag. 10
Three things are premiſed before the Doctrine is handled.
Firſt, There is nothing in this Doctrine ſhould be matter of ſtumbling or diſcouragement to weak Chriſtians, pag. 11
There is great uſe of ſuch Doctrine as this is,
1. To make them look to their ſtanding, pag. 12
2. It helps to raiſe their admiration of diſtinguiſhing love, ibid.
3. It incites to that excellent duty of heart-ſearching.
4. It ingages the ſoul to double diligence. ib.
Secondly, It is premiſed, though many go far in the way to heaven and yet fall ſhort, yet that ſoul that hath the leaſt true grace ſhall never fall ſhort pag. 13
Thirdly, They that can hear ſuch Truths as this without ſerious reflection, and ſelf-examination, may ſuſpect the goodneſs of their condition pag. 14
The Doctrine reaſſumed and demonſtrated by Scripture evidence,
1. By the example of the young man in the Goſpel, pag. 14, 15, 16
2. Proof from the parable of the Virgins pag. 17, 18, 19, 20
3. The Demonſtration from Iſa. 58.2. The Text opened, pag. 21, 22, 23, 25
For the more diſtinct proſecution of the point, is ſhewed,
Firſt, How far a man may go, what at tainments he may reach unto, what progreſs he may make in Religion and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian
Secondly, Whence it is that many go ſo far as that they are almoſt Chriſtians.
Thirdly, Why they are but almoſt Chriſtians.
Fourthly, What the reaſon is, why men that go ſo far to be almoſt (hriſtians, go no farther then to be almoſt Chriſtians.
Queſt. 1. How far a man may go in the way to heaven, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian; This ſhewn in Twenty ſeveral ſteps.
1. A man may have much knowledge and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 27
Object But is it not ſaid, This is life eternal to know the onelyonly true God and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent? anſwered, pag. 28, 29, 30
2. A man may have great and eminent gifts, yea ſpiritual, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 31
1. Gifts from the common work of the Spirit pag. 32
2. Gifts from the uſe and good of others, ibid.
3. It is beyond the power of the greateſt gifts to change the heart, pag. 35
4. Many have gone loaden with gifts to hell, ib.
Three things muſt be done for us, if ever we avoid periſhing, pag. 36
5. Gifts may decay and periſh, pag. 37
Object. But doth not the Apoſtle bid us covet after the beſt gifts, why covet them earneſtly if they avail not to ſalvation? anſwered pag. 37, 38
3. A man may have a high profeſſion of Religion, be much in external duties of godlineſs, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 38
1. A man may profeſs Religion, and yet never have his heart changed, pag. 40
2. A man may profeſs Religion, and live in a form of godlineſs, pag. 41, 42
3. Cuſtom and faſhion may create a man a profeſſor, pag. 43, 44, 45
4. Many may periſh under a profeſſion of Godlineſs, pag. 46
Object. But is it not ſaid, He that confeſſeth me before men, him will I confeſs before my Father which is in heaven? pag. 47
Anſwered, pag. 48
4. A man may go far in oppoſing his ſin, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 49
1. A man may be convinced of ſin, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, ibid.
2. A man may mourn for ſin, pag. 50
Object. But Doth not Chriſt pronounce them bleſſed that mourn pag. 51
Anſwered, Thoſe that mourn for ſin truly, it muſt flow from ſpiritual conviction, ib.
2. It muſt be more for the evil that is in ſin, then the evil that comes by ſin, ib.
3. A man may make confeſſion of his ſin to God and to others, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 52
Object. Doth not the Apoſtle ſay, if we confeſs our ſins, he is merciful and juſt to forgive us our ſin? anſwered, pag. 53
1. Many confeſs ſin out of cuſtom, ibid.
2. Many confeſs leſſer ſins, pag. 54
3. Many confeſs ſin in general, ibid.
4. Many confeſs ſin only under extremity, pag. 55.
5. Many confeſs ſin but with no intent to forſake it, ibid.
4. A man may forſake ſin, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 56
Object. But is it not ſaid, He that confeſſeth and forſaketh ſhall have mercy, Anſwered, pag. 57
1. A man may forſake his ſin not as ſin, ib.
2. Open ſins may be forſaken when ſecret ſins are retained, pag. 57
2. A man may let one ſin go to hold another the faſter. pag. 58
4. A man may let all ſin go, and yet a ſinner ſtill, ibid.
5. Sin may be left and yet loved, pag. 51
6. Sin may be chained, and yet the heart not changed, pag. 59, 60
5. A man may hate ſin and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 60, 61
Objection ariſing from Rom. 7.15. anſwered.
A man may hate ſin
1. For the ſhame that attends it, pag. 62
2. A man may hate ſin more in another then in himſelf, pag. 63
3. A man may hate one ſin as being contrary to another, ib.
4. Not hate ſin as ſin, but as contrary to his beloved ſin, pag. 64
6. A man may make great vows and promiſes, ſtrong purpoſes and reſolutions againſt ſin, and yet be but an almoſt Chriſtian, pag. 65
1. Purpoſes never hurt ſin, ib.
2. Troubles and Afflictions may provoke us to large purpoſes, pag. 66
3. Purpoſes may be onelyonly a temptation to put off Repentance, pag. 67
4. Nature unſanctified may make great purpoſes, pag. 68
It may be from conviction of ſin approving of the Law, and defire to be ſaved, ibid.
7. A man may maintain a ſtrife and combate againſt ſin in himſelf, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 70, 71, 72
V. A man may deſire Grace and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 73
What deſires of grace are grace, pag. 74
What deſires of grace are not true, pag. 75
VI. A man may tremble at the word of God, and yet be but an almoſt Chriſtian, pag. 77
T wofold trembling, pag. 78
VII. A man may delight in the word and Ordinances, and yet be but an almoſt Chriſtian, pag. 79
Delights that flow from grace, ib.
Delights, when no grace, pag. 80
VIII. A man may be a Member of the Church of Chriſt, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian,
IX. A man may have great hopes of Heaven, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 83
Properties of a true hope, ib.
Groundleſs hopes, pag. 84, 85
X. A man may be under viſible changes, & yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian Threefold change may be, when as yet the ſoul is not renewed, pag. 90, 91, 92, 93
XI. A men may be very zealous in matters of Religion, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 94
Several kinds of zeal, none of them true and ſound, pag. 96, to 104
XII. A man may be much in prayer, & yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 105
What prayers ſpeak a man an altogether Chriſtian, ibid. What prayers ſpeak a man an almoſt Chriſtian, 106, to 109. Whether anſwer of prayer evidence the truth of prayer, anſwered, 110. Whether the ſtirring of the affections in prayer argue the truth of prayer, pag. 111
XIII. A man may ſuffer for Chriſt, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, ibid.
What ſuffering for Chriſt is a note of ſincerity, 113. What ſuffering for Chriſt, is the ſuffering as a Chriſtian, pag. 113, 114
XIV. A man may be called of God, and imbrace his call, and yet be but an almoſt Chriſtian; pag. 114
T wofold call of God, pag. 15, 16
XV. A man may have the Spirit of God and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, 117. There is a having the ſpirit which is a ſure mark of Saintſhip, 118. Every man that hath the Spirit, hath it not in this manner, pag. 119
XVI. A man may have faith, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, 121. Saving Faith what called, 123. Common Faith what, pag. 124, to 128
XVII. A man may have a love to the people of God, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, 128. What love to the children of God is a true love, 130. For what an almoſt Chriſtian loves a Saint, 132. His love carnal, pag. 133
XVIII. A man may obey the commands of God, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 135
True obedience hath a three fold property,
It is Evangelical pag. 136
It is Univerſal, pag. 137
It is Continual, ibid
XIX. A man may be ſanctified and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 141
Sanctification, inward pag. 142
outward pag. 144
XX. A man may do all (as to external duties and worſhip) that a true Chriſtian can, and yet be but almoſt a Chriſtian, pag. 146
Wherein the difference between them doth lye, pag. 147, to 180
Queſt. Whence it is that many go far, and yet no farther? pag. 153, to 160
Queſt. What difference between a natural conſcience and a renewed conſcience, anſwered in ſeven particulars? from pag. 160 to 175
Queſt. Whence it is that many are but almoſt Chriſtians when they have gone thus far? pag. 180
For want of right conviction, ib.
How to know whether our conviction is onelyonly from a natural conſcience or from the Spirit? pag. 182 to 187
Spiritual conviction an eſſential part of ſound converſion, pag. 187
Slight and common convictions are the cauſe of great hypocriſie, pag. 188
Queſt, What is the reaſon that many go no further in the profeſſion of Religion then to be almoſt Chriſtians, pag. 194
1. It is becauſe a man miſtakes his own ſtate and condition, ibid.
Five riſes of this miſtake, pag. 195
4 Reaſons more why it is many go no farther then to be almoſt Chriſtians pag. 132 to 205
Application
Firſt Inference, Salvation is not ſo eaſie a thing as it is imagined to be, pag. 206
Second Inference, What ſhall be the end of them who fall ſhort of theſe, pag. 210
Ʋſe of Examination.
Two Queſtions we ſhould often put to our ſelves, What am I? where am I? pag. 212
Cogent argments for ſelf-examination, pag. 214, to 118
Queſt. How ſhall I come to know whether I am an almoſt or an altogether Chriſtian, anſwered in 8 particulars, pag. 218 to 226
2 Ʋſe of Caution, To take heed of being almoſt, and yet but an almoſt Chriſtian, pag. 227
This condition of all others
Greatly unprofitable pag. 228
Exceedingly uncomfortable, pag. 229
Deſperately dangerous, pag. 232
3 Ʋſe of Exhortation, To be not only almoſt but altogether Chriſtians, under which are five motives, pag. 246 to 270
Directions for obtaining a through work in the heart, the being not only almoſt, but altogether Chriſtians, pag. 272, to the end.
ERRATA.
PAg. 2. Line 26. was r. were, p. 42. l. 18. foreign r. foreign, l. 19. foreign, p. 54. l. 18. r. diſtinct, p. 68. l. 26. r. promiſe, p. 104. l. 11. r. Antichriſtian. p. 108. in the margin, r. foreign, p. 112. l. 24. r. from that profeſſion, p. 149. l. 15, r. ariſeth, in the margin, r. propria, p. 207. l. 26. r. untwiſted. p. 209. in the margin, r. pauci, p. 218. l. 11. r. whether, p. 229. l. 16. r. ſeventy, p. 243. l. 26. r. judgements, p. 264. l 12. for and, r. to, p. 269. l. 12. r. nor to ſtand in the judgement.
The Printer to the Reader,
READER,
THou art deſired candidly to paſs by any inadvertency thou meeteſt withal in the Contents or Table of this Book, they being not gathered by the Authour, but by another hand.
J. B.