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The footsteps in the downward road are often to be seen turning out of
it。 The footsteps in the road to heaven are all one way。 It is
written〃The way of the wicked is darkness〃〃The way of transgressors
is hard。〃 （Prov。 iv。 19； xiii。 15。） But it is also written〃The path
of the just is as the shining light； which shineth more and more unto
the perfect day。〃 （Prov。 iv。 8。）
Such sums as these； no doubt； are often not done correctly。 Not a few；
I am well aware； are ever 〃halting between two opinions。〃 They cannot
make up their minds that it is worth while to serve Christ。 The losses
and gains； the advantages and disadvantages； the sorrows and the joys；
the helps and the hindrances with that faith we shall set things down
at their true value。 Filled with that faith we shall neither add to the
cross nor subtract from the crown。 Our conclusions will be all correct。
Our sum total will be without error。
（1） In conclusion； let every reader of this paper think seriously；
whether his religion costs him anything at present。 Very likely it
costs you nothing。 Very probably it neither costs you trouble； nor
time； nor thought； nor care； nor pains； nor reading； nor praying； nor
self…denial； nor conflict； nor working； nor labour of any kind。 Now
mark what I say。 Such a religion as this will never save your soul。 It
will never give you peace while you live； nor hope while you die。 It
will not support you in the day of affliction； nor cheer you in the
hour of death。 A religion which costs nothing is worth nothing。 Awake
before it is too late。 Awake and repent。 Awake and be converted。 Awake
and believe。 Awake and pray。 Rest not till you can give a satisfactory
answer to my question； 〃What does it cost？〃
（2） Think； if you want stirring motives for serving God； what it cost
to provide a salvation for your soul。 Think how the Son of God left
heaven and became Man； suffered on the cross； and lay in the grave； to
pay your debt to God； and work out for you a plete redemption。 Think
of all this and learn that it is no light matter to possess an immortal
soul。 It is worth while to take some trouble about one's soul。
Ah； lazy man or woman； is it really e to this； that you will miss
heaven for lack of trouble？ Are you really determined to make shipwreck
for ever； from mere dislike to exertion？ Away with the cowardly；
unworthy thought。 Arise and play the man。 Say to yourself； 〃Whatever it
may cost； I will； at any rate； strive to enter in at the strait gate。〃
Look at the cross of Christ； and take fresh courage。 Look forward to
death； judgment； and eternity； and be in earnest。 It may cost much to
be a Christian； but you may be sure it pays。
（3） If any reader of this paper really feels that he has counted the
cost； and taken up the cross； I bid him persevere and press on。 I dare
say you often feel your heart faint； and are sorely tempted to give up
in despair。 Your enemies seem so many； your besetting sins so strong；
your friends so few； the way so steep and narrow； you hardly know what
to do。 But still I say； persevere and press on。
The time is very short。 A few more years of watching and praying； a few
more tossings on the sea of this world； a few more deaths and changes；
a few more winters and summers； and all will be over。 We shall have
fought our last battle； and shall need to fight no more。
The presence and pany of Christ will make amends for all we suffer
here below。 When we see as we have been seen； and look back on the
journey of life； we shall wonder at our own faintness of heart。 We
shall marvel that we made so much of our cross； and thought so little
of our crown。 We shall marvel that in 〃counting the cost〃 we could ever
doubt on which side the balance of profit lay。 Let us take courage。 We
are not far from home。 IT MAY COST MUCH TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND A
CONSISTENT BELIEVER； BUT IT PAYS。
__________________________________________________________________
＇9＇ I should be very sorry indeed if the language I have used above
about revivals was misunderstood。 To prevent this I will offer a few
remarks by way of explanation。 For true revivals of religion no one can
be more deeply thankful than I am。 Wherever they may take place； and by
whatever agents they may be effected； I desire to bless God for them；
with all my heart。 〃If Christ is preached；〃 I rejoice； whoever may be
the preacher。 If souls are saved； I rejoice； by whatever section of the
Church the word of life has been ministered。 But it is a melancholy
fact that； in a world like this； you cannot have good without evil。 I
have no hesitation in saying； that one consequence of the revival
movement has been the rise of a theological system which I feel obliged
to call defective and mischievous in the extreme。 The leading feature
of the theological system I refer to； is this： an extravagant and
disproportionate magnifying of three points in religion；viz。；
instantaneous conversionthe invitation of unconverted sinners to e
to Christ；and the possession of inward joy and peace as a test of
conversion。 I repeat that these three grand truths （for truths they
are） are so incessantly and exclusively brought forward； in some
quarters； that great harm is done。 Instantaneous conversion； no doubt；
ought to be pressed on people。 But surely they ought not to be led to
suppose that there is no other sort of conversion； and that unless they
are suddenly and powerfully converted to God； they are not converted at
all。 The duty of ing to Christ at once； 〃just as we are；〃 should be
pressed on all hearers。 It is the very corner…stone of Gospel
preaching。 But surely men ought to be told to repent as well as to
believe。 They should be told why they are to e to Christ； and what
they are to e for； and whence their need arises。 The nearness of
peace and fort in Christ should be proclaimed to men。 But surely
they should be taught that the possession of strong inward joys and
high frames of mind is not essential to justification； and that there
may be true faith and true peace without such very triumphant feelings。
Joy alone is no certain evidence of grace。 The defects of the
theological system I have in view appear to me to be these： （1） The
work of the Holy Ghost in converting sinners is far too much narrowed
and confined to one single way。 Not all true converts are converted
instantaneously； like Saul and the Philippian jailor。 （2） Sinners are
not sufficiently instructed about the holiness of God's law； the depth
of their sinfulness； and the real guilt of sin。 To be incessantly
telling a sinner to 〃e to Christ〃 is of little use； unless you tell
him why he needs to e； and show him fully his sins。 （3） Faith is not
properly explained。 In some cases people are taught that mere feeling
is faith。 In others they are taught that if they believe that Christ
died for sinners they have faith！ At this rate the very devils are
believers！ （4） The possession of inward joy and assurance is made
essential to believing。 Yet assurance is certainly not of the essence
of saving faith。 There may be faith when there is no assurance。 To
insist on all believers at once 〃rejoicing；〃 as soon as they believe；
is most unsafe。 Some； I am quite sure； will rejoice without believing；
while others will believe who cannot at once rejoice。 （5） Last； but not
least； the sovereignty of God in saving sinners； and the absolute
necessity of preventing grace； are far too much overlooked。 Many talk
as if conversions could be manufactured at man's pleasure； and as if
there were no such text as this； 〃It is not of him that willeth； nor of
him that runneth； but of God that showeth mercy。〃 （Rom。 ix。 16。） The
mischief done by the theological system I refer to is； I am persuaded；
very great。 On the one hand； many humble…minded Christians are totally
discouraged and daunted。 They fancy they have no grace because