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。）