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which may throw light on the subject。
I。 I will show； firstly； what it costs to be a true Christian。
II。 I will explain； secondly； why it is of such great importance to
count the cost。
III。 I will give； in the last place； some hints which may help men to
count the cost rightly。
We are living in strange times。 Events are hurrying on with singular
rapidity。 We never know 〃what a day may bring forth〃； how much less do
we know what may happen in a year！We live in a day of great religious
profession。 Scores of professing Christians in every part of the land
are expressing a desire for more holiness and a higher degree of
spiritual life。 Yet nothing is more mon than to see people receiving
the Word with joy； and then after two or three years falling away； and
going back to their sins。 They had not considered 〃what it costs〃 to be
a really consistent believer and holy Christian。 Surely these are times
when we ought often to sit down and 〃count the cost；〃 and to consider
the state of our souls。 We must mind what we are about。 If we desire to
be truly holy； it is a good sign。 We may thank God for putting the
desire into our hearts。 But still the cost ought to be counted。 No
doubt Christ's way to eternal life is a way of pleasantness。 But it is
folly to shut our eyes to the fact that His way is narrow； and the
cross es before the crown。
I。 I have； first； to show what it costs to be a true Christian。
Let there be no mistake about my meaning。 I am not examining what it
costs to save a Christian's soul。 I know well that it costs nothing
less than the blood of the Son of God to provide an atonement； and to
redeem man from hell。 The price paid for our redemption was nothing
less than the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary。 We 〃are bought with a
price。〃 〃Christ gave Himself a ransom for all。〃 （1 Cor。 vi。 20； 1 Tim。
ii。 6。） But all this is wide of the question。 The point I want to
consider is another one altogether。 It is what a man must be ready to
give up if he wishes to be saved。 It is the amount of sacrifice a man
must submit to if he intends to serve Christ。 It is in this sense that
I raise the question； 〃What does it cost？〃 And I believe firmly that it
is a most important one。
I grant freely that it costs little to be a mere outward Christian。 A
man has only got to attend a place of worship twice on Sunday； and to
be tolerably moral during the week； and he has gone as far as thousands
around him ever go in religion。 All this is cheap and easy work： it
entails no self…denial or self…sacrifice。 If this is saving
Christianity； and will take us to heaven when we die； we must alter the
description of the way of life； and write； 〃Wide is the gate and broad
is the way that leads to heaven！〃
But it does cost something to be a real Christian； according to the
standard of the Bible。 There are enemies to be overe； battles to be
fought； sacrifices to be made； an Egypt to be forsaken； a wilderness to
be passed through； a cross to be carried； a race to be run。 Conversion
is not putting a man in an arm…chair and taking him easily to heaven。
It is the beginning of a mighty conflict； in which it costs much to win
the victory。 Hence arises the unspeakable importance of 〃counting the
cost。〃
Let me try to show precisely and particularly what it costs to be a
true Christian。 Let us suppose that a man is disposed to take service
with Christ； and feels drawn and inclined to follow Him。 Let us suppose
that some affliction； or some sudden death； or an awakening sermon； has
stirred his conscience； and made him feel the value of his soul and
desire to be a true Christian。 No doubt there is everything to
encourage him。 His sins may be freely forgiven； however many and great。
His heart may be pletely changed； however cold and hard。 Christ and
the Holy Spirit； mercy and grace； are all ready for him。 But still he
should count the cost。 Let us see particularly； one by one； the things
that his religion will cost him。
（1） For one thing； it will cost him his self…righteousness。 He must
cast away all pride and high thoughts； and conceit of his own goodness。
He must be content to go to heaven as a poor sinner saved only by free
grace； and owing all to the merit and righteousness of another。 He must
really feel as well as say the Prayer…book wordsthat he has 〃erred
and gone astray like a lost sheep；〃 that he has 〃left undone the things
he ought to have done； and done the things he ought not to have done；
and that there is no health in him。〃 He must be willing to give up all
trust in his own morality； respectability； praying； Bible…reading；
church…going； and sacrament…receiving； and to trust in nothing but
Jesus Christ。
Now this sounds hard to some。 I do not wonder。 〃Sir；〃 said a godly
ploughman to the well…known James Hervey； of Weston Favell； 〃it is
harder to deny proud self than sinful self。 But it is absolutely
necessary。〃 Let us set down this item first and foremost in our
account。 To be a true Christian it will cost a man his
self…righteousness。
（2） For another thing； it will cost a man his sins。 He must be willing
to give up every habit and practice which is wrong in God's sight。 He
must set his face against it； quarrel with it； break off from it； fight
with it； crucify it； and labour to keep it under； whatever the world
around him may say or think。 He must do this honestly and fairly。 There
must be no separate truce with any special sin which he loves。 He must
count all sins as his deadly enemies； and hate every false way。 Whether
little or great； whether open or secret； all his sins must be
thoroughly renounced。 They may struggle hard with him every day； and
sometimes almost get the mastery over him。 But he must never give way
to them。 He must keep up a perpetual war with his sins。 It is
written〃Cast away from you all your transgressions。〃〃Break off thy
sins and iniquities。〃〃Cease to do evil。〃（Ezek。 xviii。 31； Daniel
iv。 27； Isa。 i。 16。）
This also sounds hard。 I do not wonder。 Our sins are often as dear to
us as our children： we love them； hug them； cleave to them； and delight
in them。 To part with them is as hard as cutting off a right hand； or
plucking out a right eye。 But it must be done。 The parting must e。
〃Though wickedness be sweet in the sinner's mouth； though he hide it
under his tongue； though he spare it； and forsake it not；〃 yet it must
be given up； if he wishes to be saved。 （Job xx。 12； 13。） He and sin
must quarrel； if he and God are to be friends。 Christ is willing to
receive any sinners。 But He will not receive them if they will stick to
their sins。 Let us set down that item second in our account。 To be a
Christian it will cost a man his sins。
（3） For another thing； it will cost a man his love of ease。 He must
take pains and trouble； if he means to run a successful race towards
heaven。 He must daily watch and stand on his guard； like a soldier on
enemy's ground。 He must take heed to his behaviour every hour of the
day； in every pany； and in every place； in public as well as in
private； among strangers as well as at home。 He must be careful over
his time； his tongue； his temper； his thoughts； his imagination； his
motives； his conduct in every relation of life。 He must be diligent
about his prayers； his Bible…reading； and his use of Sundays； with all
their means of grace。 In attending to these things he may e far
short of perfection； but there is none of them that he can safely
neglect。 〃The soul of the sluggard desireth； and hath nothing： but the
soul of the diligent shall be made fat。〃 （Prov。 xiii。 4。）
This also sounds hard。 There is nothing we naturally dislike so much as
〃trouble〃 about our religion。 We hate trouble。 We secretly wish we
could have a 〃vicarious〃 Christianity； and could be good by proxy； and
have everything done for us。 Anything that requires exertion and labour
is entirely against the grain of our hearts。 But the soul can have 〃no
gains without pains。〃 Let us set down that item third in our account。
To be a Christian it will cost a man his love of ease。
（4） In the last place； it will cost a man the favour of the world。 He
must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God。 He must
count it no strange thing to be mocked； ridiculed； slandered；
persecuted； and even hated。 He must not be surprised to find his
opinions and practices in religion despised and held up to scorn。 He
must submit to be thought by many a fool； an enthusiast； and a
fanaticto have his words perverted and his actions misrepresented。 In
fact； he must not marvel if some call him mad。 The Master
says〃Remember the word that I said unto you； The servant is not
greater than his lord。 If they have persecuted Me； they will also
persecute you； if they have kept My saying； they will keep yours also。〃
（John xv。 20。）
I dare say this also sounds hard。 We naturally dislike unjust dealing
and false charges； and think it very hard to be accused without cause。
We should not be flesh and blood if we did not wish to have the good
opinion of our neighbours。 It is always unpleasant to be spoken
against； and forsaken； and lied about； and to stand alone。 But there is
no help for it。 The cup which our Master drank must be drunk by His
disciples。 They must be 〃despised and rejected of men。〃 （Isa。 liii。 3。）
Let us set down that item last in our account。 To be a Christian it
will cost a man the favour of the world。
Such is the account of what it costs to be a true Christian。 I grant
the list is a heavy one。 But where is the item that could be removed？
Bold indeed must that man be who would dare to say that we may keep our
self…righteousness； our sins； our laziness； and our love of the world；
and yet be saved！
I grant it costs much to be a true Christian。 But who in his sound
senses can doubt that it is worth any cost to have the soul saved？ When
the ship is in danger of sinking； the crew think nothing of casting
overboard the precious cargo。 When a limb is mortified； a man will
submit to any severe operation； and even to amputation； to save life。
Surely a Christian should be willing to give up anything which stands
between him and heaven。 A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing！
A cheap Christianity； without a cross； will prove in the end a useless
Christianity； without a crown。
II。 I have now； in the second place； to explain why 〃counting the cost〃
is of such great importance to man's soul。
I might easily settle this question by laying down the principle； that
no duty enjoined by Christ can ever be neglected without damage。 I
might show how many shut their eyes throughout life to the nature of
saving religion； and refuse to consider what it really costs to be a
Christian。 I might describe how at last； when life is ebbing away； they
wake up； and make a few spasmodic efforts to turn to God。 I might tell
you how they find to their amazement that repentance and conversion are
no such easy matters as they had supposed； and that it costs 〃a great
sum〃 to be a true Christian。 They discover that habits of pride and
sinful indulgence； and love of ease； and worldliness； are not so easily
laid aside as they had dreamed。 And so； after a faint struggle； they
give up in despair； and leave the world hopeless； graceless； and unfit
to meet God！ They had flattered themselves all their days that religion
would be easy work when they once took it up seriously。 But they open
their eyes too late； and discover for the first time that they are
ruined because they never 〃counted the cost。〃
But there is one class of persons to whom especially I wish to address
myself in handling this part of my subject。。 It is a large classan
increasing classand a class which in these days is i