Almost a Christian

Matthew Mead (Meade) (1630-1699) was an independent puritan divine, and popular reformed preacher and morning lecturer at Stepney Church (London).The title of this work, “Almost a Christian” is drawn from Mead’s main text, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” (Acts 26:28). This statement by Agrippa is the foundation on which the entire treatise revolves. What does it mean to be “almost a Christian?” How far can a man or woman go, how far can a teenager or child go, that they actually fall short of salvation? How far may a man, woman, or child run the race of the Christian, and yet not run as to obtain their end? It is, unfortunately, a sad consequence of so many people throughout history who have entered eternity unaware of their present danger. Mead warns and directs every professing Christian to consider what it means to lay under the scrutiny of a spiritual examination for the good of their souls. The reason? To find out whether that Christian is a true believer, or they have merely deceived themselves being “almost a Christian.” What a terrible place to be to delude one’s self for decades only to find out upon their last breath, at the judgment seat of God, that Christ “never knew them.” Many souls miscarry into eternity on such grounds. Mead has most orderly and precisely laid out a series of biblical propositions and their corollary answers to help the reader discern, and thoroughly examine, their current spiritual state before Jesus Christ. He desires that they be “altogether a Christian,” instead of “almost a Christian.” This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.