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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 d