has their end been？ Often； far too often； they have found out that
their whole life has been a grand mistake。 They have tasted by bitter
experience the feelings of the dying statesman who cried aloud in his
last hours； 〃The battle is fought： the battle is fought： but the
victory is not won。〃
For your own happiness' sake resolve this day to join the Lord's side。
Shake off your past carelessness and unbelief。 e out from the ways
of a thoughtless； unreasoning world。 Take up the cross； and bee a
good soldier of Christ。 〃Fight the good fight of faith；〃 that you may
be happy as well as safe。
Think what the children of this world will often do for liberty；
without any religious principle。 Remember how Greeks； and Romans； and
Swiss； and Tyrolese； have endured the loss of all things； and even life
itself； rather than bend their necks to a foreign yoke。 Let their
example provoke you to emulation。 If men can do so much for a
corruptible crown； how much more should you do for one which is
incorruptible！ Awake to a sense of the misery of being a slave。 For
fife； and happiness； and liberty； arise and fight。
Fear not to begin and enlist under Christ's banner。 The great Captain
of your salvation rejects none that e to Him。 Like David in the cave
of Adullam； He is ready to receive all who apply to Him； however
unworthy they may feel themselves。 None who repent and believe are too
bad to be enrolled in the ranks of Christ's army。 All who e to Him
by faith are admitted； clothed； armed； trained； and finally led on to
plete victory。 Fear not to begin this very day。 There is yet room
for you。
Fear not to go on fighting； if you once enlist。 The more thorough and
whole…hearted you are as a soldier； the more fortable will you find
your warfare。 No doubt you will often meet with trouble； fatigue； and
hard fighting； before your warfare is acplished。 But let none of
these things move you。 Greater is He that is for you than all they that
be against you。 Everlasting liberty or everlasting captivity are the
alternatives before you。 Choose liberty； and fight to the last。
（2） It may be you know something of the Christian warfare； and are a
tried and proved soldier already。 If that be your case； accept a
parting word of advice and encouragement from a fellow…soldier。 Let me
speak to myself as well as to you。 Let us stir up our minds by way of
remembrance。 There are some things which we cannot remember too well。
Let us remember that if we would fight successfully we must put on the
whole armour of God； and never lay it aside till we die。 Not a single
piece of the armour can be dispensed with。 The girdle of truth； the
breastplate of righteousness； the shield of faith； the sword of the
Spirit； the helmet of hopeeach and all are needful。 Not a single day
can we dispense with any part of this armour。 Well says an old veteran
in Christ's army； who died 200 years ago； 〃In heaven we shall appear；
not in armour； but in robes of glory。 But here our arms are to be worn
night and day。 We must walk； work； sleep in them； or else we are not
true soldiers of Christ。〃 （Gurnall's Christian Armour。）
Let us remember the solemn words of an inspired warrior； who went to
his rest 1；800 years ago： 〃No man that warreth entangleth himself with
the affairs of this life； that he may please him who hath chosen him to
be a soldier。〃 （2 Tim。 ii。 4。） May we never forget that saying！
Let us remember that some have seemed good soldiers for a little
season； and talked loudly of what they would do； and yet turned back
disgracefully in the day of battle。
Let us never forget Balaam； and Judas； and Demas； and Lot's wife。
Whatever we are； and however weak； let us be real； genuine； true； and
sincere。
Let us remember that the eye of our loving Saviour is upon us； morning；
noon； and night。 He will never suffer us to be tempted above that we
are able to bear。 He can be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities； for He suffered Himself being tempted。 He knows what
battles and conflicts are； for He Himself was assaulted by the Prince
of this world。 Having such a High Priest； Jesus the Son of God； let us
hold fast our profession。 （Heb。 iv。 14。）
Let us remember that thousands of soldiers before us have fought the
same battle that we are fighting； and e off more than conquerors
through Him that loved them。 They overcame by the blood of the Lamb；
and so also may we。 Christ's arm is quite as strong as ever； and
Christ's heart is just as loving as ever。 He that saved men and women
before us is one who never changes。 He is 〃able to save to the
uttermost all who e unto God by Him。〃 Then let us cast doubts and
fears away。 Let us 〃follow them who through faith and patience inherit
the promises；〃 and are waiting for us to join them。 （Heb。 vii。 25； vi。
12。）
Finally； let us remember that the time is short； and the ing of the
Lord draweth nigh。 A few more battles and the last trumpet shall sound；
and the Prince of Peace shall e to reign on a renewed earth。 A few
more struggles and conflicts； and then we shall bid an eternal good…bye
to warfare； and to sin； to sorrow； and to death。 Then let us fight on
to the last； and never surrender。 Thus saith the Captain of our
salvation〃He that overeth shall inherit all things； and I will be
his God； and he shall be my son。〃 （Rev。 xxi。 7。）
Let me conclude all with the words of John Bunyan； in one of the most
beautiful parts of Pilgrim's Progress。 He is describing the end of one
of his best and holiest pilgrims：
〃After this it was noised abroad that Mr。 Valiant…for…truth was sent
for by a summons； by the same party as the others。 And he had this word
for a token that the summons was true； The pitcher was broken at the
fountain。' （Eccl。 xii。 6。） When he understood it； he called for his
friends； and told them of it。 Then said he； I am going to my Father's
house； and though with great difficulty I have got hither； yet now I do
not repent me of all the troubles I have been at to arrive where I am。
My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage； and my
courage and skill to him that can get it。 My marks and scars I carry
with me； to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles； who
will now be my rewarder。' When the day that he must go home was e；
many acpanied him to the river…side； into which； as he went down； he
said； O death where is thy sting？' And as he went down deeper； he
cried； O grave； where is thy victory？' So he passed over； and all the
trumpets sounded for him on the other side。〃
May our end be like this！ May we never forget that without fighting
there can be no holiness while we live； and no crown of glory when we
die！
__________________________________________________________________
V。
THE COST
〃Which of you； intending to build a house； sitteth not down first and
couneth the cost？〃Luke xiv。 28。
THE text which heads this page is one of great importance。 Few are the
people who are not often obliged to ask themselves〃What does it
cost？〃
In buying property； in building houses； in furnishing rooms； in forming
plans； in changing dwellings； in educating children； it is wise and
prudent to look forward and consider。 Many would save themselves much
sorrow and trouble if they would only remember the question〃What does
it cost？〃
But there is one subject on which it is specially important to 〃count
the cost。〃 That subject is the salvation of our souls。 What does it
cost to be a true Christian？ What does it cost to be a really holy man？
This； after all； is the grand question。 For want of thought about this；
thousands； after seeming to begin well； turn away from the road to
heaven； and are lost for ever in hell。 Let me try to say a few words
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 sacr