The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

7. I know the fourth Mark, about forsaking All for Christ, may seem somewhat unseasonable and harsh to propound for the quieting of a troubled conscience. But yet, I durst not omit it, seeing Christ hath not omitted it; nay seeing he hath so urged it, and laid such a stress on it in the Scripture as he hath done; dare not daub, nor be unfaithful, for fear of troubling: such skinning over the wound, will but prepare for more trouble & a further cure. Christ thought it meet even to tell young beginners of the worst (though it might possibly discourage them, and did turn some back (that they might not come to him upon mistaken expectations: and he requireth all that will be Christians and he saved, to count their cost before hand, and reckon what it will stand them in to be Christs Disciples; and if they cannot undergo his terms (that is, to deny themselves, take up their Cross, forsake all and follow him) they cannot be his Disciples. And Christ had rather they knew it before hand, then to deceive themselves, or to turn back when they meet with what they never thought of, and then to imagine that Christ had deceived them & drawn them in, and done the wrong.

7. I know the fourth Mark, about forsaking All for Christ, may seem somewhat unseasonable and harsh to propound for the quieting of a troubled conscience. But yet, I durst not omit it, seeing Christ hath not omitted it; nay seeing he hath so urged it, and laid such a stress on it in the Scripture as he hath done; dare not dawb, nor be unfaithfull, for fear of troubling: such skinning over the wound, will but prepare for more trouble & a further cure. Christ thought it meet even to tell young beginners of the worst (though it might possibly discourage them, and did turn some back (that they might not come to him upon mistaken expectations: and he requireth all that will be Christians and he saved, to count their cost before hand, and reckon what it will stand them in to be Christs Disciples; and if they cannot undergo his termes (that is, to deny themselves, take up their Cross, forsake all and follow him) they cannot be his Disciples. And Christ had rather they knew it before hand, then to deceive themselves, or to turn back when they meet with what they never thought of, and then to imagin that Christ had deceived them & drawn them in, and done the wrong.