6.  We are to take him for all necessaries, that is, with a resolution to make use of him as our all-sufficient Mediator.  And is not this most reasonable?  Ought we not to take him for all the ends and purposes for which God hath appointed him, and set him forth, and offered him to us?  What then can any suppose to lie here which should scar a soul from laying hold upon him?  Nay, should not this be looked upon as a very great encouragement?  And should we not bless the Lord, that hath provided such a complete and all-sufficient Mediator?

7.  We are to take him and all the crosses that may attend our taking or following of him; we must take up our cross, be it what it will that he thinketh good to appoint to us, and follow him, Matt. xvi. 24.  Mark viii. 34.  “For he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth not after him, is not worthy of him,” Matt. x. 38.  I know flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying; but they that consider, that Christ will bear the heaviest end of the cross, yea, all of it, and so support them by his Spirit while they are under it, that they shall have no just cause to complain; and how he will suffer none to go his errand upon their own charges, but will be with them when they go through the fire and water, Isa. xliii. 2, so that they shall suffer no loss, neither shall the waters overflow them, nor the fire kindle upon them; and that he who loseth his life for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s, shall save it, Mark viii. 35; yea, that they shall receive an hundred-fold for all their losses, Matt. xix. 29, and that even with persecution, Mark x. 30, and, in the world to come, eternal life.  They, I say, who consider this, will see no discouragement here, nor ground of complaint; nay, they will account it their glory to suffer any loss for Christ’s sake.

8.  Hence it followeth, that we are to take him, so as to avouch him and his cause and interest on all hazards, stand to his truth, and not be ashamed of him in a day of trial.  Confession of him must be made with the mouth, as with the heart we must believe, Rom. x. 9.  Let corruption speak against this what it will, because it is always desirous to keep the skin whole.  Yet reason cannot but say that it is equitable, especially seeing he hath said, that “whosoever confesseth him before men, he will confess them before his Father which is in heaven,” Matt. x. 32.  And that, “If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him,” 2 Tim. ii. 12.  Is he our Lord and master, and should we not own and avouch him?  Should we be ashamed of him for any thing, that can befall us, upon that account?  What master would not take that ill at his servant’s hands?

Hence, then, we see, that there is nothing in all the conditions on which he offereth himself to us, that can give the least ground, in reason, why a poor soul should draw back, and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer, or think that the conditions are hard.

But there is one main objection, which may trouble some, and that is, they cannot believe; faith being the gift of God, it must be wrought in them; how then can they go to God for this, and make use of Christ for this end, that their souls may be wrought up to a believing and consenting to the bargain, and hearty accepting of the offer?