fill. It 18 a heavy cross to disagree with those we love, and specially about spiritual things. But if this cross be laid upon us, we must remember that firmness and decision are true kindness. It can never be true love to relatives to do wrong, in order to please them. And, best of all, firmness accompanied by gentleness and consistency, in the long run of life, often brings its own reward. Thou- sands of Christians will bless God at the last day, that they had relatives and fiiends who chose to displease, them rather than Christ. That very decision was the first thing that made them think seriously, and led finally to the conversion of their souls.
We learn, secondly, fi:om this passage, that those who are thinking of following Christ should be warned to '^ count the cost.^^ This is a lesson which was intended for the multitudes who followed our Lord without thought and consideration, and was enforced by examples drawn from building and from war. It is a lesson which will be found useful in every age of the church.
It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a mere nominal Christian, and go to Church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ's voice, and follow Christ, and believe in Christ, and confess Christ, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, and our self-rfghteousness, and our ease, and our worldliness. All — all must be given up. We must fight an enemy, who comes against us with twenty thousand followers. We must build a tower in troublous times. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us " count the cost."
Now, why did our Lord use this language P Did He