There Is That in Religion Which Carries Its Own Evidence to the Consciences of Ungodly Men

"You persuade me"] [in non-Latin alphabet], the word is from the Hebrew [in non-Latin alphabet] and it signifies both suadere and persuadere, either to use arguments to prevail, or to prevail by the arguments used.

Now it is to be taken in the latter sense here, to show the influence of Paul's arguments upon Agrippa, which had almost proselyted him to the profession of Christianity.

Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.

I hope I need not tell you what a Christian is, though I am persuaded many that are called Christians do not know what a Christian is, or if they do, yet they don't know what it is to be a Christian.

A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ; one that believes in, and follows Christ. As he that embraces the doctrine of Arminius is called an Arminian, and as he that owns the doctrine and way of Luther is called a Lutheran, so he that embraces and owns and follows the doctrine of Jesus Christ, he is called a Christian.

The word is taken more largely, and more strictly: more largely, and so all that profess Christ come in the flesh, are called Christians, in opposition to heathens that do not know Christ; and to the poor blind Jews, that will not own Christ; and to the Mohammedan, that prefers Mohammed above Christ.

But now in Scripture, the word is of a more strict and narrow acceptation; it is used only to denominate the true disciples and followers of Christ (Acts 11:26). The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch (1 Peter 4:16). If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, that is as a member, and disciple of Christ, and so in the text, almost you persuade me to be a Christian.

The word is used but in these three places (as I find) in all the New Testament, and in each of them it signifies in the sense aforementioned.

The Italians make the name to be a name of reproach among them, and do usually abuse the word Christian to signify a fool.

But if as the Apostle says, the preaching of Christ is to the world foolishness, then it is no wonder that the disciples of Christ are to the world, fools (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Yet it is true (in a sound sense) that so they are. For the whole of godliness is a mystery (1 Timothy 3:16).

A man must die, that would live; he must be empty, that would be full; he must be lost, that would be found; he must have nothing, that would have all things; he must be blind that would have illumination; he must be condemned that would have redemption: so he must be a fool, that would be a Christian. If any man among you seems to be wise, let him become a fool, that he may be wise (1 Corinthians 4:11).

He is the true Christian, that is the world's fool, but wise to salvation.

Thus you have the sense and meaning of the words briefly explained.

The text needs no division, and yet it is a pity, the almost should not be divided from the Christian.

Though it is of little avail to divide them as they are linked in the text, unless I could divide them, as they are united in your hearts, this would be a blessed division, if the [reconstructed: almost] might be taken from the Christian. That so you may be not only [in non-Latin alphabet] but [in non-Latin alphabet] not only propemodum, but admodum, not only almost, but altogether Christians.

This is God's work to effect it, but it is our duty to persuade to it, and O that God would help me to manage the subject so, that you may say in the conclusion, you persuade me (not almost, but) altogether to be a Christian.

The observation that I shall propound to handle is this.