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Let us —

I. DELINEATE THE CHARACTER OF THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. He may —

1. Have much speculative knowledge of religious truths.

2. Have great and splendid spiritual gifts.

3. Make a high profession of religion, unite himself visibly with the Church, and be frequent in the worship of God.

4. In some degree mourn for his sin, from the common operations of the Spirit upon his mind, and from a fear of the wrath of God.

5. Have some desires of grace, and of the blessings which God communicates to His children.

II. INQUIRE WHAT IS STILL WANTING TO SUCH A MAN? I answer, Everything that radically forms the Christian. He wants —

1. The Holy Ghost to dwell within him, for "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His."

2. That new birth by which he must be made spiritual.

3. Deep humility of heart.

4. The life of faith.

5. That serious belief of the world to come, which causes the soul to take it as its happiness and treasure.

6. A universal hatred to all known sin, and an actual victory over it.

7. Unfeigned love to a life of holiness; a delight to meditate on the law of God, with an intention to obey it.Conclusion: These are solemn truths, let us be led by them —

1. To examine our own state. Professors of the religion of Jesus, are you real, or only almost Christians?

2. Salvation is not so easily obtained as the men of the world imagine. "Strive, therefore, to enter in at the strait gate," etc.

3. If those that advance so far shall perish, what shall be the doom of the openly profane?

(H. Kollock, D. D.)

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KJV: King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

WEB: King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."