Self-examination with the likeliest means of conversion and salvation, or, haypy [sic] and welcome advice, if it meets with a soul ingenious : the which being thought (by many) worth the transcribing, at no small charge, is now published for the good of all / by R. Junius.

CHAP. X.

I Grant there are of them so like Christians, (as to the external parts of Christianity) that it is no easie matter to convince them that they are not really such; for they have been baptized, live unreprovably, pay their dues, pray in their families, are charitable, chaste, temporate, hear the best Ministers, repeat Sermons, instruct their children and ser∣vants, with many the like; therefore they must needs be good and real Christians.

To which I answer, All this they may do, and yet be but almost Christians: For as a child of God, by looking more upon his sins then his graces, more upon his failings, then his faith, more upon in-dwelling lusts, then renewing grace, may think his condition very bad, when it is very good. So the sinner by looking more upon his duties then his sins, may think his condition very good, and yet be in a wicked estate. And the reason is, Many mistake common grace, for saving grace; through the resemblance that is between them. As many take counterfeit mony, for current coin; And as Saul took the Devil for Samuel, because he appeared in Samuels likeness: So many take common gifts for saving graces, because of the resemblance. And this is the common Rock that so many souls split upon to their eternal hazard. They take up a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof; And as many might have been wise, had they not so thought themselves; so many a formal Professor, might have been a sincere Believer, had he not mistook his Profession for Conversion, his Duties for Gra∣ces, and so rested in that for Sincerity, which is indeed but Hypocrisie.

A man may be like or almost a Christian, and yet not be a Christian. A man may come neer to the Kingdom of Heaven, and yet be ne're the neer. Thou art not far from the Kingdom of Heaven, said our Saviour to the young man, Mark 12.34.

There is an external, and an internal worship of God. There may be the likeness of grace, without the life of grace.

There is no grace but an Hypocrite may have somewhat like it; and there is no duty done by a Christian, but an Hypocrite may do somewhat like it. A man may attain to many gifts, and seeming graces, and make a great progress in Religion; yea, he may do all (as to external duties and worship) that a true Christian can do, and yet be but almost a Christian: As ob∣serve what God saith, Isai. 58. of that people; They seek me daily, They delight to know my way, as a Nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the Ordinances of their God: They ask of me the Ordinances of Justice, They take delight in approaching to God, vers. 2. yea, in the next verse, They were a people much in fasting, and afflicting their souls: Where∣fore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest it not? And yet for all this, they were no better then a generation of Hypocrites, as you may finde if you read the Chapter.

Some neither hear nor do, as prophane sinners; some both hear and do, as true Believers; some hear but do not, as hypocritical Professors. A man may believe all the truths of the Gospel, all the promises, all the threatnings, all the Articles of the Creed to be true, and yet perish for want of saving faith. A man may be converted from a course of prophaneness, to a form of godli∣ness, from a filthy conversation, to a fair profession, and yet be but almost a Christian. A man may be outwardly reformed, and yet not savingly renewed, &c.