to bee decided。 Draw the sword； and cast away the scabbard。 〃If you
have no sword； sell your garment and buy one〃 （Luke 22：36）。 Burn your
ships； and march straight forward。 Do not merely look at the ark； and
admire it； but enter in； before the door is shut and the flood begins。
One thing； at any rate； may be laid down as an axiom in the elements of
religion： An 〃almost〃 Christian is neither a safe nor a happy man。
III。 Let us turn now to the last picture of the three。 Let us look at
the man whom Festus thought 〃beside himself；〃 and by whom Agrippa was
〃almost persuaded to be a Christian。〃 Let us look at St。 Paul。 This is
the man who boldly said；〃 I would to God； that not only thou； but all
that hear me this day； were both almost and altogether such as I am；
except these bonds。〃 He wished his hearers no chains or imprisonment；
such as he was suffering when he spoke。 But he did wish them to be of
one mind with him about the one thing needful； and to share his peace；
his hope； his solid fort； his expectations。
〃Altogether such as I am。〃 A weighty and memorable saying！ It is the
language of one who is thoroughly convinced and persuaded that he is in
the right。 He has cast overboard all doubts and hesitations。 He holds
the truth with the firm grasp of both hands； and not with finger and
thumb。 It is the language of the man who wrote in one place； 〃I know
whom I have believed； and that He is able to keep that which I have
mitted to Him against that day。〃And in another place；〃 I am
persuaded that neither death； nor life； nor angels； nor principalities；
nor powers； nor things present； nor things to e； nor height； nor
depth； nor any other creature； shall be able to separate us from the
love of God； which is in Christ Jesus our Lord〃 （2 Tim。 1：12； Rom。
8：38…39）。
（a） St。 Paul was altogether convinced of the truth of the facts of
Christianity。 That the Lord Jesus Christ was actually 〃God manifest in
the flesh；〃 that He had proved His divinity by doing miracles which
could not be denied；that He had； finally； risen from the grave and
ascended up into heaven； and was sitting at God's right hand as man's
Saviour；on all these points he had thoroughly made up his mind； and
had not the slightest doubt of their credibility。 On behalf of them he
was willing to die。
（b） St。 Paul was altogether convinced of the truth of the doctrines of
Christianity。 That we are all guilty sinners； and in danger of eternal
ruin； that the grand object of Christ ing into the world was to make
atonement for our sins； and to purchase redemption by suffering in our
stead on the cross；that all who repent and believe on Christ
crucified are pletely forgiven all sins；and that there is no other
way to peace with God and heaven after death； but faith in Christ；all
this he most stedfastly believed。 To teach these doctrines was his one
object from his conversion till his martyrdom。
（c） St。 Paul was altogether convinced that he himself had been changed
by the power of the Holy Spirit； and taught to live a new life；that a
holy life； devoted and consecrated to Christ； was the wisest； happiest
life a man could live； that the favour of God was a thousand times
better than the favour of man；and that nothing was too much to do for
Him who had loved him and given Himself for him。 He ran his race ever
〃looking unto Jesus；〃 and spending and being spent for Him （Heb。 12：2；
2 Cor。 5：15； 12：15）。
（d） Last； but not least； St。 Paul was altogether convinced of the
reality of a world to e。 The praise or favour of man； the rewards or
punishments of this present world； were all as dross to him。 He had
before his eyes continually an inheritance incorruptible； and a crown
of glory that would never fade away （Phil。 3：8； 2 Tim。 4：8）。 Of that
crown he knew that nothing could deprive him。 Festus might despise him；
and think him 〃mad。〃 The Roman emperor； to whom he was going； might
order him to be beheaded or thrown to the lions。 What matter？ He was
firmly persuaded that he had treasure laid up in heaven which neither
Festus nor Caesar could touch； and which would be his to all eternity。
This is what St。 Paul meant when he said 〃altogether such as I am。〃
About the facts； doctrines； practice； and rewards to e of
Christianity； he had a rooted； settled； firm conviction；a conviction
which he longed to see all men sharing。 He was confident： he wanted
others to enjoy the same confidence。 He had no doubt or fear about the
future state of his soul。 He would fain have seen Festus； Agrippa；
Bernice； and all around them； in the same happy condition。
Now； are there many in the present day like St。 Paul？ I do not of
course mean； are there many inspired Apostles？ But I do mean； is it
mon to meet Christians who are as thorough； as unhesitating； as full
of assurance as he was？ I fear there can only be one answer to this
question。 〃Not many；〃 whether rich or poor； high or low； 〃are
called。〃〃Strait is the gate； and narrow is the way； that leadeth unto
life； and few there be that find it〃 （1 Cor。 1：26； Matt。 7：14）。 Look
where you please； search where you like in town or in country； there
are few 〃altogether〃 Christians。 Festus and AgripPsalms are everywhere：
they meet us at every turn。 But there are few thorough； wholehearted
followers of St。 Paul。 Yet one thing is very certain。 These few are the
〃salt of the earth；〃 and the 〃light of the world〃 （Matt。 5：13…14）。
These few are the glory of the Church； and serve to keep it alive。
Without them； the Church would be little better than a decaying
carcase； a white…washed sepulchre； a lighthouse without light； a
steam…engine without fire； a golden candlestick without a candle； a joy
to the devil； and an offence to God。
These are the kind of men who shake the world； and leave an indelible
mark behind them。 Martin Luther； and John Wesley； and William
Wilberforce were hated and lightly esteemed while they lived； but the
work they did for Christ will never be forgotten。 They were
〃altogether〃 Christians。
These are the kind of men who enjoy true happiness in their religion。
Like Paul and Silas； they can sing in prison； and； like Peter； they can
sleep quietly on the very edge of the grave （Acts 12：6； 16：25）。 Strong
faith gives them an inward peace which makes them independent of
earthly troubles； and pels even their enemies to wonder。 Your
lukewarm Laodicean Christians have little fort in their religion。 It
is the 〃thorough〃 men who have great peace。 The first Marian martyr；
John Rogers； when he was going to be burned alive for Protestantism； is
said to have walked to the stake in Smithfield as cheerfully as if he
were going to his wedding。 The outspoken； courageous words of old
Latimer； before the faggots were lighted； in the day of his martyrdom；
in Broad Street； Oxford； are not forgotten to this very day。 〃Courage！
Brother Ridley；〃 he cried to his fellow…sufferer； 〃we shall light a
candle in England to…day； by God's grace； which shall never be put
out。〃 These men were 〃altogether〃 Christians。
He that would be safe and prepared to meet his God at a moment's
notice； at evening； at cock…crowing； or in the morning；he that would
enjoy felt peace in his religion； peace unaffected by sicknesses；
bereavements； bankruptcies； revolutions； and the last trumpet's
sound；he that would do good in his day and generation； and be a
fountain of Christian influence to all around him； influence known and
recognised long after he has been laid in his grave；let that man
remember what I tell。 him to…day； and never forget it。 You must not be
content to be an 〃almost〃 Christian； like Agrippa。 You must strive； and
labour； and agonize； and pray to be an 〃altogether〃 Christian； like St。
Paul。
And now； let us leave these three pictures with self…inquiry and
self…examination。 The time is short。 Our years are quickly passing
away。 The world is growing old。 The great assize will soon begin。 The
Judge will soon appear。 What are we？ To whom are we like？ Whose is this
image and superscription upon us？ Is it that of Festus； or of Agrippa；
or of St。 Paul？
Where are Festus and Agrippa now？ We do not know。 A veil is drawn over
their subsequent history； and whether they died as they lived we cannot
tell。 But where is St。 Paul； the 〃altogether〃 Christian？ That question
we can answer。 He is 〃with Christ； which is far better〃 （Phil。 1：23）。
He is waiting for the resurrection of the just； in that paradise of
rest where sin and Satan and sorrow can trouble him no more。 He has
fought the good fight。 He has finished his course； he has kept the
faith。 A crown is laid up for him which he will receive in the great
review day of the Lord's appearing （2 Tim。 4：7…8）。
And； let us thank God； though St。 Paul is dead and gone； the Saviour
who made St。 Paul what he was； and kept him to the end； still