Oderunt peccare boni, virtutis amore;
Oderunt peccare mali, formidine pœnæ.[3]
So that if a man only abstains from doing evil, in order to avoid punishment,
Non pasces in cruce corvos,[4]
saith the Pagan; there, Thou hast thy reward. But even he will not allow such a harmless man as this, to be so much as a good Heathen. If then any man, from the same motive, viz. to avoid punishment, to avoid the loss of his friends, or his gain, or his reputation, should not only abstain from doing evil, but also do ever so much good, yea, and use all the means of grace: yet we could not with any propriety say, this man is even almost a Christian. If he has no better principle in his heart, he is only a hypocrite altogether.
10. Sincerity therefore is necessarily implied in the being almost a Christian: a real design to serve God, a hearty desire to do his will: it is necessarily implied, that a man have a sincere view of pleasing God in all things: in all his conversation: in all his actions: in all he does, or leaves undone. This design, if any man be almost a Christian, runs through the whole tenor of his life. This is the moving principle, both in his doing good, his abstaining from evil, and his using the ordinances of God.
11. But here it will probably be enquired, is it possible that any man living, should go so far as this, and nevertheless be only almost a Christian? What more than this can be implied, in the being a Christian altogether? I answer, first, That it is possible to go thus far, and yet be but almost a Christian; I learn not only from the oracles of God, but also from the sure testimony of experience.
12. Brethren, great is my boldness towards you in this behalf. And forgive me this wrong, if I declare my own folly upon the house-top, for yours and the gospel’s sake. Suffer me then to speak freely of myself, even as of another man. I am content to be abased, so ye may be exalted, and to be yet more vile, for the glory of my Lord.
13. I did go thus far for many years, as many of this place can testify: using diligence to eschew all evil, and to have a conscience void ofoffence: redeeming the time, buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men; constantly and carefully using all the public and all the private means of grace; endeavouring after a steddy seriousness of behaviour, at all times and in all places: and God is my record, before whom I stand, doing all this in sincerity; having a real design to serve God, a hearty desire to do his will in all things, to please him who had called me to fight the good fight, and to lay hold of eternal life. Yet my own conscience beareth me witness in the Holy Ghost, that all this time I was but almost a Christian.
II. If it be enquired, what more than this is implied in the being altogether a Christian? I answer,