The Almost Christian Discovered Modern English PDF Download

Reader, You have here one of the saddest considerations imaginable presented to you, and that is, "How far it is possible a man may go in a profession of religion--and yet, after all, fall short of salvation; how far he may run--and yet not so run as to obtain." This, I say, is sad--but not so sad as true; for our Lord Christ does plainly attest it, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in--and shall not be able!" My design herein is, that the formal, sleepy professor may be awakened, and the hidden hypocrite discovered; but my fear is, that weak believers may be hereby discouraged; for, as it is hard to show how low a child of God may fall into sin--and yet have true grace--but that the unconverted sinner will be apt thereupon to presume; so it is as hard to show how high a hypocrite may rise in a profession--and yet have no grace--but that the true believer will be apt thereupon to despond. The prevention whereof, I have carefully endeavored, by showing, that though a man may go thus far, and yet be but almost a Christian--yet a man may fall short of this, and be a true Christian notwithstanding. Judge not, therefore, your state by any one character you find laid down of a false professor; but read the whole, and then make a judgment; for I have cared, as not to "give children's bread to dogs," so not to use the dog's whip to scare the children! Yet I could wish that this book might fall into the hands of such only whom it chiefly concerns, who "have a name to live--and yet are dead;" being busy with the "form of godliness," but strangers to the "power of it." These are the proper subjects of this treatise. May the Lord follow it with his blessing wherever it comes, that it may be an awakening word to all such, and especially to that generation of profligate professors with which this age abounds; who, if they keep to their church, bow the knee, talk over a few prayers--think they do enough for heaven, and hereupon judge their condition safe, and their salvation sure--though there be a hell of sin in their hearts, "and the poison of asps is under their lips;" their minds being as yet carnal and unconverted, and their conversations filthy and unsanctified. If eternal life be of so easy attainment, and to be had at so cheap a rate--why did our Lord Christ tell us, "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto life--and few there are who find it?" And why should the apostle perplex us with such a needless injunction, "to give diligence to make our calling and election sure?" Certainly, therefore, it is no such easy thing to be saved--as many make it; and that you will see plainly in the following discourse. If you are either a stranger to a profession, or a hypocrite under a profession, then read and tremble, for you are the man here pointed at. But if the kingdom of God has come with power into your soul; if Christ is formed in you; if your heart be upright and sincere with God--then read and rejoice. May the mighty God, whose prerogative it is to teach to profit, whether by the tongue or the pen, by speaking or writing--bless this tract, that it may be to you as a cloud of rain to the dry ground, dropping fatness to your soul, that so your fleece being watered with the "dew of heaven," you may "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." In whom I am your Friend and Servant, Matthew Mead, London, October, 1661.