| Author: | John Wesley | ISBN: | 1230001930276 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications | Publication: | September 24, 2017 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | John Wesley |
| ISBN: | 1230001930276 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications |
| Publication: | September 24, 2017 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Acts 26:28.
And many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation who were almost persuaded to be Christians. But seeing it avails nothing before God to go only thus far, it highly imports us to consider,
First. What is implied in being almost,
Secondly. What in being altogether, a Christian.
I. (I.) 1. Now, in the being almost a Christian is implied, First, heathen honesty. No one, I suppose, will make any question of this; especially, since by heathen honesty here, I mean, not that which is recommended in the writings of their philosophers only, but such as the common heathens expected one of another, and many of them actually practised. By the rules of this they were taught that they ought not to be unjust; not to take away their neighbour’s goods, either by robbery or theft; not to oppress the poor, neither to use extortion toward any; not to cheat or overreach either the poor or rich, in whatsoever commerce they had with them; to defraud no man of his right; and, if it were possible, to owe no man anything.
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Acts 26:28.
And many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation who were almost persuaded to be Christians. But seeing it avails nothing before God to go only thus far, it highly imports us to consider,
First. What is implied in being almost,
Secondly. What in being altogether, a Christian.
I. (I.) 1. Now, in the being almost a Christian is implied, First, heathen honesty. No one, I suppose, will make any question of this; especially, since by heathen honesty here, I mean, not that which is recommended in the writings of their philosophers only, but such as the common heathens expected one of another, and many of them actually practised. By the rules of this they were taught that they ought not to be unjust; not to take away their neighbour’s goods, either by robbery or theft; not to oppress the poor, neither to use extortion toward any; not to cheat or overreach either the poor or rich, in whatsoever commerce they had with them; to defraud no man of his right; and, if it were possible, to owe no man anything.
