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cost。〃
These are solemn and painful truths。 But they are truths。 They all help
to show the immense importance of the subject I am now considering。
They all point out the absolute necessity of pressing the subject of
this paper on all who profess a desire for holiness； and of crying
aloud in all the churches〃Count the Cost。〃
I am bold to say that it would be well if the duty of 〃counting the
cost〃 were more frequently taught than it is。 Impatient hurry is the
order of the day with many religionists。 Instantaneous conversions； and
immediate sensible peace； are the only results they seem to care for
from the Gospel。 pared with these all other things are thrown into
the shade。 To produce them is the grand end and object； apparently； of
all their labours。 I say without hesitation that such a naked；
one…sided mode of teaching Christianity is mischievous in the extreme。
Let no one mistake my meaning。 I thoroughly approve of offering men a
full； free； present； immediate salvation in Christ Jesus。 I thoroughly
approve of urging on man the possibility and the duty of immediate
instantaneous conversion。 In these matters I give place to no one。 But
I do say that these truths ought not to be set before men nakedly；
singly； and alone。 They ought to be told honestly what it is they are
taking up； if they profess a desire to e out from the world and
serve Christ。 They ought not to be pressed into the ranks of Christ's
army without being told what the warfare entails。 In a word； they
should be told honestly to 〃count the cost。〃
Does any one ask what our Lord Jesus Christ's practice was in this
matter？ Let him read what St。 Luke records。 He tells us that on a
certain occasion 〃There went great multitudes with Him： and He turned
and said unto them； If any e to Me； and hate not his father； and
mother； and wife； and children； and brethren； and sisters； yea； and his
own life also； he cannot be My disciple。 And whosoever doth not bear
his cross and e after Me； cannot be My disciple。〃 （Luke xiv。 25…27。）
I must plainly say； that I cannot reconcile this passage with the
proceedings of many modern religious teachers。 And yet； to my mind； the
doctrine of it is as clear as the sun at noon…day。 It shows us that we
ought not to hurry men into professing discipleship； without warning
them plainly to 〃count the cost。〃
Does any one ask what the practice of the eminent and best preachers of
the Gospel has been in days gone by？ I am bold to say that they have
all with one mouth borne testimony to the wisdom of our Lord's dealing
with the multitudes to which I have just referred。 Luther； and Latimer；
and Baxter； and Wesley； and Whitfield； and Berridge； and Rowland Hill；
were all keenly alive to the deceitfulness of man's heart。 They knew
full well that all is not gold that glitters； that conviction is not
conversion； that feeling is not faith； that sentiment is not grace；
that all blossoms do not e to fruit。 〃Be not deceived；〃 was their
constant cry。 〃Consider well what you do。 Do not run before you are
called。 Count the cost。〃
If we desire to do good； let us never be ashamed of walking in the
steps of our Lord Jesus Christ。 Work hard if you will； and have the
opportunity； for the souls of others。 Press them to consider their
ways。 pel them with holy violence to e in； to lay down their
arms； and to yield themselves to God。 Offer them salvation； ready；
free； full； immediate salvation。 Press Christ and all His benefits on
their acceptance。 But in all your work tell the truth； and the whole
truth。 Be ashamed to use the vulgar arts of a recruiting serjeant。 Do
not speak only of the uniform； the pay； and the glory； speak also of
the enemies； the battle； the armour； the watching； the marching； and
the drill。 Do not present only one side of Christianity。 Do not keep
back 〃the cross〃 of self…denial that must be carried； when you speak of
the cross on which Christ died for our redemption。 Explain fully what
Christianity entails。 Entreat men to repent and e to Christ； but bid
them at the same time to 〃count the cost。〃
III。 The third and last thing which I propose to do； is to give some
hints which may help men to 〃count the cost〃 rightly。
Sorry indeed should I be if I did not say something on this branch of
my subject。 I have no wish to discourage any one； or to keep any one
back from Christ's service。 It is my heart's desire to encourage every
one to go forward and take up the cross。 Let us 〃count the cost〃 by all
means； and count it carefully。 But let us remember； that if we count
rightly； and look on all sides； there is nothing that need make us
afraid。
Let us mention some things which should always enter into our
calculations in counting the cost of true Christianity。 Set down
honestly and fairly what you will have to give up and go through； if
you bee Christ's disciple。 Leave nothing out。 Put it all down。 But
then set down side by side the following sums which I am going to give
you。 Do this fairly and correctly； and I am not afraid for the result。
（a） Count up and pare； for one thing； the profit and the loss； if
you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 You may possibly lose
something in this world； but you will gain the salvation of your
immortal soul。 It is written〃What shall it profit a man； if he shall
gain the whole world； and lose his own soul？〃 （Mark viii。 36。）
（b） Count up and pare； for another thing； the praise and the blame；
if you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 You may possibly be
blamed by man； but you will have the praise of God the Father； God the
Son； and God the Holy Ghost。 Your blame will e from the lips of a
few erring； blind； fallible men and women。 Your praise will e from
the King of kings and Judge of all the earth。 It is only those whom He
blesses who are really blessed。 It is written〃Blessed are ye when men
shall revile you； and persecute you； and say all manner