按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
myself in handling this part of my subject。。 It is a large classan
increasing classand a class which in these days is in peculiar
danger。 Let me in a few plain words try to describe this class。 It
deserves our best attention。
The persons I speak of are not thoughtless about religion： they think a
good deal about it。 They are not ignorant of religion： they know the
outlines of it pretty well。 But their great defect is that they are not
〃rooted and grounded〃 in their faith。 Too often they have picked up
their knowledge second hand； from being in religious families； or from
being trained in religious 。ways； but have never worked it out by their
own inward experience。 Too often they have hastily taken up a
profession of religion under the pressure of circumstances； from
sentimental feelings； from animal excitement； or from a vague desire to
do like others around them； but without any solid work of grace in
their hearts。 Persons like these are in a position of immense danger。
They are precisely those； if Bible examples are worth anything； who
need to be exhorted 〃to count the cost。〃
For want of 〃counting the cost〃 myriads of the children of Israel
perished miserably in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan。 They
left Egypt full of zeal and fervour； as if nothing could stop them。 But
when they found dangers and difficulties in the way； their courage soon
cooled down。 They had never reckoned on trouble。 They had thought the
promised land would be all before them in a few days。 And so； when
enemies； privations； hunger； and thirst began to try them； they
murmured against Moses and God； and would fain have gone back to Egypt。
In a word； they had 〃not counted the cost；〃 and so lost everything； and
died in their sins。
For want of 〃counting the cost；〃 many of our Lord Jesus Christ's
hearers went back after a time； and 〃walked no more with Him。〃 （John
vi。 66。） When they first saw His miracles； and heard His preaching；
they thought 〃the kingdom of God would immediately appear。〃 They cast
in their lot with His Apostles； and followed Him without thinking of
the consequences。 But when they found that there were hard doctrines to
be believed； and hard work to be done； and hard treatment to be borne；
their fait gave way entirely； and proved to be nothing at all。 In a
word； they had not 〃counted the cost；〃 and so made shipwreck of their
profession。
For want of 〃counting the cost；〃 King Herod returned to his old sins；
and destroyed his soul。 He liked to hear John the Baptist preach。 He
〃observed〃 and honoured him as a just and holy man。 He even 〃did many
things〃 which were right and good。 But when he found that he must give
up his darling Herodias； his religion entirely broke down。 He had not
reckoned on this。 He had not 〃counted the cost。〃 （Mark vi。 20。）
For want of 〃counting the cost；〃 Demas forsook the pany of St。 Paul；
forsook the Gospel； forsook Christ； forsook heaven。 For a long time he
journeyed with the great Apostle of the Gentiles； and was actually a
〃fellow…labourer。〃 But when he found he could not have the friendship
of this world as well as the friendship of God； he gave up his
Christianity and clave to the world。 〃Demas hath forsaken me；〃 says St。
Paul； 〃having loved this present world。〃 （2 Tim。 iv。 10。） He had not
〃counted the cost。〃
For want of 〃counting the cost；〃 the hearers of powerful Evangelical
preachers often e to miserable ends。 They are stirred and excited
into professing what they have not really experienced。 They receive the
Word with a 〃joy〃 so extravagant that it almost startles old
Christians。 They run for a time with such zeal and fervour that they
seem likely to outstrip all others。 They talk and work for spiritual
objects with such enthusiasm that they make older believers feel
ashamed。 But when the novelty and freshness of their feelings is gone；
a change es over them。 They prove to have been nothing more than
stony…ground hearers。 The description the great Master gives in the
Parable of the Sower is exactly exemplified。 〃Temptation or persecution
arises because of the Word； and they are offended。〃 （Matt。 xiii。 21。）
Little by little their zeal melts away； and their love bees cold。 By
and by their seats are empty in the assembly of God's people； and they
are heard of no more among Christians。 And why？ They had 〃never counted
the cost。〃
For want of 〃counting the cost；〃 hundreds of professed converts； under
religious revivals； go back to the world after a time； and bring
disgrace on religion。 They begin with a sadly mistaken notion of what
is true Christianity。 They fancy it consists in nothing more than a
so…called 〃ing to Christ；〃 and having strong inward feelings of joy
and peace。 And so； when they find； after a time； that there is a cross
to be carried； that our hearts are deceitful； and that there is a busy
devil always near us； they cool down in disgust； and return to their
old sins。 And why？ Because they had really never known what Bible
Christianity is； They had never learned that we must 〃count the cost。〃
＇9＇
For want of 〃counting the cost；〃 the children of religious parents
often turn out ill； and bring disgrace on Christianity。 Familiar from
their earliest years with the form and theory of the Gospeltaught
even from infancy to repeat great leading textsaccustomed every week
to be instructed in the Gospel； or to instruct others in Sunday
schoolsthey often grow up professing a religion without knowing why；
or without ever having thought seriously about k。 And then when the
realities of grown…up life begin to press upon them； they often astound
every one by dropping all their religion； and plunging right into the
world。 And why？ They had never thoroughly understood the sacrifices
which Christianity entails。 They had never been taught to 〃count the
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 man