The Cost - Pt. 2

In part 2 of Holiness chapter 4, Ryle explains why it is of such importance to our souls to count the cost.

Ryle tells us that there are a number of ways he might quickly and easily settle this question, but he wishes to spend some little time addressing one class of persons in particular. He says,
"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 ground' 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 have they 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." (May I point out (as Ryle later points out) that Jesus speaks of these persons in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-9. Such people receive the Word with joy, but soon fall away from the faith because they have no root, no firm and true foundation. Everyone one of us should ask himself/herself, "Am I like that? Is Christ my solid foundation, or do I merely put on a masquerade, while in reality I have no root?")

Ryle points out that it was "for want of 'counting the cost', that myriads of the children of Israel perished miserably in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan." Israel departed from their slavery in Egypt with eagerness and vigor, but then, when things got tough, they began complaining, murmuring, and railing against God. Their faith was not firmly grounded, and as a result, their complaining brought down on their heads a severe punishment from Yahweh.

Ryle says that "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 6:66)." Their faith in Him was not deeply rooted: it was a temporary thing, inspired in their hearts for a season because of the Messiah's great miracles and works.

"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 honored 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...

"For want of 'counting the cost'," Ryle says, "Demas forsook the company of St. Paul, forsook the gospel, forsook Christ, forsook heaven... when he found he could not have the friendship of this world as well as the friendship of God...

"For want of 'counting the cost', the hearers of powerful evangelical preachers often come to miserable ends. They are stirred and excited into professing what they have not really experienced... they run for a time with such zeal and fervor that they seem likely to outstrip all others... but when the novelty and freshness of their feelings is gone... they prove to have been nothing more than stony ground hearers...

"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 began with a sadly mistaken notion of what is true Christianity. They fancy it consists in nothing more than a so-called 'coming 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 our deceitful, and that there is a busy devil always near us, they cool down in disgust, and return to their old sins...

"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 gospel - taught from infancy to repeat great leading text, accustomed every week to be instructed in the gospel... they often grow up professing a religion without knowing why, or without ever having thought seriously about it. And then when the realities of grown-up life begin to press upon them, they often astound everyone by dropping all their religion and plunging right into the world... they had never really thoroughly understood the sacrifices which Christianity entails...

I would like to bring up a quote by C.S. Lewis here. He tells us, "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful until it became risky."
This can also be applied to our Christian walk and our faith. A faith which gives way when things become hard or difficult or troublesome is a conditional faith; and conditional faith is not true faith.

Mark Twain said, "The streets of Hell are paved with good intentions." Many people start out in the Christian walk with good intentions - they are fired up and fresh and invigorated. But the Christian walk is a hard walk, and once the road gets rough, and their cross gets heavy, they fall away. Good intentions will not get you far on the Christian road of trials and persecution. Deep grounded faith and perseverance through the power of God are what is needed.

Ryle tells us not to mistake his meaning, however. He says, "I thoroughly approve of offering men a full, free, present, immediate salvation in Christ Jesus. I thoroughly approve of urging on man to 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 come 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 anyone 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 out great multitudes with Him (Jesus): and he turned and said unto them, If any come 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 come after me, cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:25-27)... to my mind, the doctrine of it is as clear as the sun at noonday. It shows us that we ought not to hurry men into professing discipleship, without warning them plainly to 'count the cost'."

Ryle reminds us that many great and eminent preachers of the gospel "have 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 Whitefield, 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 come from fruit. 'Be not deceived,' was their constant cry. 'Consider well what you do. Do not run before you are called. Count the cost.'"

In conclusion, Ryle tells us, "If we are 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. Compel them with holy violence to come 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 sergeant. Do not speak only of the uniform, the pay, and the glory; speak also of the enemies, the battle, the armor, 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 Jesus died for our redemption. Explain fully what Christianity entails. Entreat men to repent and come to Christ; but bid them at the same time to 'count the cost'."

Persevero,

Scribe