Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

1. It implies and necessarily includes the right understanding and true apprehension of Gospel Terms and Articles: these must be known, pondered and duly considered, before the Will can savingly open in an act of consent to Christs offer. I desire this may be especially observed, because multitudes are mistaken and deceived about this thing; he that doth not consider doth not consent; you must exercise your understandings upon the Terms and Articles of Christianity, or else your consent is rash, blindfold and unstable, this in Luke 14. 31. is called consulting; the consent of Faith is the result of many previous consultations and debates in the mind; the Soul that comes to Christ must take up Religion in his most sedate and serious thoughts; turn both sides of it, the dark as well as the bright side ⟨p. 233⟩of Religion to the Eye of his mind; balance all the conveniences and inconveniences, losses as well as gains. If I open to Christ, this I shall gain, but that I must lose; I cannot separate Christ from sufferings, Christ will separate me from my sins; if I seek him, I must let them go; if I profess Christ, providence will one time or other bring me to this Dilemma, either Christ or Earthly comforts must go; 'tis necessary therefore that I now propound to my self what providence may, one time or other, propound to me; he hath set down his terms, Matth. 16. 24. If any Man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. This self-denial deserves serious consideration; for Christ extends it to natural Self, righteous Self, and civil Self; and requires that I give up my Life, my Liberty, my Estate and Relations, my own Righteousness, as hard to be parted with as any of the former. I must take up my Cross, that is, the sufferings and troubles God shall appoint for me, and which I cannot avoid or escape without sin; and I must follow Christ, follow him whither soever he goes. I know not what Religion may cost me before I dye; all this it hath cost others; and there is no bringing down Christs terms lower than he hath laid them. I must come up to them, they will not come down to me; if I like them not as Christ hath left them, the Treaty between him and me is ended, Matth. 10. 37, 38. He that loveth Father or Mother, more than me, is not worthy of me: And he that loveth Son or Daughter, more than me, is not worthy of me: