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 of evil against
you falsely； for my sake。 Rejoice and be exceeding glad； for great is
your reward in heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 11； 12。）
（c） Count up and pare； for another thing； the friends and the
enemies； if you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 On the one side
of you is the enmity of the devil and the wicked。 On the other； you
have the favour and friendship of the Lord Jesus Christ。 Your enemies；
at most； can only bruise your heel。 They may rage loudly； and pass
sea and land to work your ruin； but they cannot destroy you。 Your
Friend is able to save to the uttermost all them that e unto God by
Him。 None shall ever pluck His sheep out of His hand。 It is
written〃Be not afraid of them that kill the body； and after that have
no more that they can do。 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear：
Fear Him； which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell； yea；
I say unto you； fear Him。〃 （Luke xii。 5。）
（d） Count up and pare； for another thing； the life that now is and
the life to e； if you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 The
time present； no doubt； is not a time of ease。 It is a time of watching
and praying； fighting and struggling； believing and working。 But it is
only for a few years。 The time future is the season of rest and
refreshing。 Sin shall be cast out。 Satan shall be bound。 And； best of
all； it shall be a rest for ever。 It is written〃Our light affliction；
which is but for a moment； worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory； while we look not at the things which are
seen； but at the things which are not seen： for the things which are
seen are temporal； but the things which arc not seen are eternal。〃 （2
Cor。 iv。 17； 18。）
（e） Count up and pare； for another thing； the pleasures of sin and
the happiness of God's service； if you are a true…hearted and holy
Christian； The pleasures that the worldly man gets by his ways are
hollow； unreal； and unsatisfying。 They are like the fire of thorns；
flashing and crackling for a few minutes； and then quenched for ever。
The happiness that Christ gives to His people is something solid；
lasting； and substantial。 It is not dependent on health or
circumstances。 It never leaves a man； even in death。 It ends in a crown
of glory that fadeth not away。 It is written〃The joy of the hypocrite
is but for a moment。〃〃As the crackling of thorns under a pot； so is
the laughter of the fool。〃 （Job xx。 5； Eccl。 vii。 6。） But it is also
written〃Peace I leave with you； my peace give I unto you： not as the
world giveth； give I unto you。 Let not your heart be troubled； neither
let it be afraid。〃 （John xiv。 27。）
（f） Count up and pare； for another thing； the trouble that true
Christianity entails； and the troubles that are in store for the wicked
beyond the grave。 Grant for a moment that Bible…reading； and praying；
and repenting； and believing； and holy living； require pains and
self…denial。 It is all nothing pared to that 〃wrath to e〃 which
is stored up for the impenitent and unbelieving。 A single day in hell
will be worse than a whole life spent in carrying the cross。 The 〃worm
that never dies； and the fire that is not quenched；〃 are things which
it passes man's power to conceive fully or describe。 It is
written〃Son； remember that thou in thy life…time receivedst thy good
things； and likewise Lazarus evil things； but now he is forted and
thou art tormented。〃 （Luke xvi。 25。）
（g） Count up and pare； in the last place； the number of those who
turn from sin and the world and serve Christ； and the number of those
who forsake Christ and return to the world。 On the one side you will
find thousandson the other you will find none。 Multitudes are every
year turning out of the broad way and entering the narrow。 None who
really enter the narrow way grow tired ot it and return to the broad。
The footsteps in the downward road are often to be seen turning out of
it。 The footsteps in the road to heaven are all one way。 It is
written〃The way of the wicked is darkness〃〃The way of transgressors
is hard。〃 （Prov。 iv。 19； xiii。 15。） But it is also written〃The path
of the just is as the shining light； which shineth more and more unto
the perfect day。〃 （Prov。 iv。 8。）
Such sums as these； no doubt； are often not done correctly。 Not a few；
I am well aware； are ever 〃halting between two opinions。〃 They cannot
make up their minds that it is worth while to serve Christ。 The losses
and gains； the advantages and disadvantages； the sorrows and the joys；
the helps and the hindrances with that faith we shall set things down
at their true value。 Filled with that faith we shall neither add to the
cross nor subtract from the crown。 Our conclusions will be all correct。
Our sum total will be without error。
（1） In conclusion； let every reader of this paper think seriously；
whether his religion costs him anything at present。 Very likely it
costs you nothing。 Very probably it neither costs you trouble； nor
time； nor thought； nor care； nor pains； nor reading； nor praying； nor
self…denial； nor conflict； nor working； nor labour of any kind。 Now
mark what I say。 Such a religion as this will never save your soul。 It
will never give you peace while you live； nor hope while you die。 It
will not support you in the day of affliction； nor cheer you in the
hour of death。 A religion which costs nothing is worth nothing。 Awake
before it is too late。 Awake and repent。 Awake and be converted。 Awake
and believe。 Awake and pray。 Rest not till you can give a satisfactory
answer to my question； 〃What does it cost？〃
（2） Think； if you want stirring motives for serving God； what it cost
to provide a salvation for your soul。 Think how the Son of God left
heaven and became Man； suffered on the cross； and lay in the grave； to
pay your debt to God； and work out for you a plete redemption。 Think
of all this and learn that it is no light matter to possess an immortal
soul。 It is worth while to take some trouble about one's soul。
Ah； lazy man or woman； is it really e to this； that you will miss
heaven for lack of trouble？ Are you really determined to make shipwreck
for ever； from mere dislike to exertion？ Away with the cowardly；
unworthy thought。 Arise and play the man。 Say to yourself； 〃Whatever it
may cost； I will； at any rate； strive to enter in at the strait gate。〃
Look at the cross of Christ； and take fresh courage。 Look forward to
death； judgment； and eternity； and be in earnest。 It may cost much to
be a Christian； but you may be sure it pays。
（3） If any reader of this paper really feels that he has counted the
cost； and taken up the cross； I bid him persevere and press on。 I dare
say you often feel your heart faint； and are sorely tempted to give up
in despair。 Your enemies seem so many； your besetting sins so strong；
your friends so few； the way so steep and narrow； you hardly know what
to do。 But still I say； persevere and press on。
The time is very short。 A few more years of watching and praying； a few
more tossings on the sea of this world； a few more deaths and changes；
a few more winters and summers； and all will be over。 We shall have
fought our last battle； and shall need to fight no more。
The presence and pany of Christ will make amends for all we suffer
here below。 When we see as we have been seen； and look back on the
journey of life； we shall wonder at our own faintness of heart。 We
shall marvel that we made so much of our cross； and thought so little
of our crown。 We shall marvel that in 〃counting the cost〃 we could ever
doubt on which side the balance of profit lay。 Let us take courage。 We
are not far from home。 IT MAY COST MUCH TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND A
CONSISTENT BELIEVER； BUT IT PAYS。
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＇9＇ I shou