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The doctrine here is, that a sinner who designs to close with Christ, and become His disciple, should first consult matters well, and then take courage and not fear any enemy, but resolutely pursue his great and good design.

I. SHOW PARTICULARLY WHAT A POOR SINNER, WHO DESIGNS TO ENTER UPON THIS WAR, SHOULD CONSULT.

1. He should consult the charge of this war. He who spares one beloved lust will be worsted and lose the field.

2. He should consult what great hardship he must undergo.

3. He should consult the cause and absolute necessity of the war.

4. He should consult the length or duration of the war.

5. He must consider at whose charge the war is to be carried on and maintained. Christ's riches and treasures are infinite and inexhaustible.

6. He should carefully consider the manner and time when he must enlist, and what armour he must wear (Hebrews 3:13; Ephesians 6:14-17).

7. He must consider the strength, policy, wrath, and cruelty of Satan and other enemies.

8. He must be sensible of his own weakness, and never engage in his own name or strength.

9. He must consider the power and irresistible strength of his Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ.

10. He must consider the covenant of peace, the oath and promises of God the Father to Christ as Mediator, and in Him to all believers; also, how in that covenant all the elect are put into Christ's hand, not only to redeem them, to renew them, but also to aid, help, and assist, and to fight for them; yea, and to strengthen and support them.

11. He must consider the relation in which they stand to their Captain. He has espoused and married them for ever.

12. They should also know that all their enemies are already conquered.

13. They should consider the honour of God, and the honour, exaltation, and glory of their Captain, and prefer that above their lives. While we seek His glory, He will seek our good.

14. They should consider the nature of the crown for which they fight.

II. SHOW WHY SINNERS SHOULD SIT DOWN AND CONSIDER THESE THINGS BEFORE THEY ENTER INTO THESE WARS.

1. Because man is naturally self-confident, and thinks he can do wonderful things by his own strength; but did he know how weak be is, and how deceitful his heart is, and all the powers of his soul, he would not pride it so in himself, nor ever venture to go forth in his own strength against one who is so much stronger than he.

2. Because all who ever engaged these enemies, not considering their own weakness, but went out in their own strength, were put to flight and utterly beaten.

3. Because our Lord would have none of His soldiers be surprised, either by the power, wrath, malice, or subtlety of the enemy.

4. That we may be better prepared for the worst. Forewarned, forearmed.

Application:

1. This informs us that the work of a Christian is no easy, but a very hard and difficult, work.

2. It may inform us what the reason is that so many professors, who seemed zealous in times of peace and liberty, have deserted in an hour of trial and persecution. They did not sit down and consider the strength of their enemies.

3. It may be of use to all poor convinced sinners that purpose to follow Jesus Christ, first of all to ponder and well weigh the nature, troubles, and difficulties of a Christian life.

4. It also may tend to convince us of the great strength and power of Satan and other enemies of our souls, and the need we have to be well armed and to stand always upon our watch. and never give way to self-confidence.

5. It shows also the woeful condition of unbelievers, who have not the power of Christ to help and assist them.

(B. Keach.)

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KJV: Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

WEB: Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?