3. Whereas it is said in the fifth Verse , that the man is blessed , whose strength is in the Lord , and in whose heart are his ways : which the Hebrew Rabbins understand to be spoken of the people of Israel in generall , who placed the strength of their confidence in the protection of the God of Israel , and set their mindes upon those ways which from each quarter of their Land , tended towards the place where the tabernacle was pitched . Wee may learne where the confidence of a Christian heart should be placed , namely , in the Lord his God : whom the Psalmist so confidently stileth his rocke , his fortresse , his deliverer , his God , his strength in whom hee would trust , his buckler , the horn of his salvation , and his high tower , Psal. 18.2 .

4. As also , whereas it is said : Blessed is the man whose strength is in the Lord , and in whose heart are his ways : It may serve to teach us , that if we expect protection from God as our strength , we must be mindfull to keep our selves in the ways of God , and to have them still in our heart . That precious promise which God maketh of preservation by the Ministery of his holy Angels , is to those onely that minde the ways of God , Psal. 91.11 Mandabit Angelis , &c. He shall give his Angels charge over thee , to keepe thee in all thy ways , not in thy by-ways which are of thine own chusing , but in thy right wayes , as of Gods appointing : And this is the reason ( as most of the Fathers conceive ) why the Devill when he tempted our blessed Lord with this Scripture , Math. 4.6 . left out that clause in viis tuis .

5. In which ways , albeit they lye through the valley of Baca , the vale of teares , yet they that minde the way to Gods Tabernacle , even therin shall finde many sweet refreshments , Verse 6.7 . That they faint not thorough thirst , they shall have wels of water , and the rain shall cover their pooles : wels of water , but of their own digging : They must use all good means afforded unto them , and then the Lord from Heaven shal rain upon them : he shall comfort them with the dew of his grace , hee shall powre upon them the continuall dew of his blessings . Wherwith being supplyed in their journey , they shall walk from strength to strength , till every one appeare before God in Sion , Verse 7. Et hic quoque succurrie gratia diuina , saith Musculus on this place . Herein the grace of God prevents and assists them , so abundantly strengthening those that minde this way aright , that no difficulty in passage , no violence of opposition , can any way take them off , but doth rather inflame the heate of their courage , making them constant unto the end , and their abilities both of knowledge and practice , growing by the daily use they have therof : so that they walke from strength to strength untill they appear before God in Sion .

6. Great cause therfore have we every one of us to pray with the Psalmist , upon these grounds of Meditation , as Verse 8 , 9. Oh Lord God of hosts heare my prayer , give eare ô God of Iacob . Behold , ô Lord , our shield , and look upon the face of thine anointed . Oh look upon the meritorious intercession of thine anointed , thy Christ , our Redeemer , and for his sake give us strength and grace to finish our course in thy ways , that we may appeare before thee in Sion .

7. And that for these two Reasons which our Psalmist addeth .

First , Because a day in thy Courts is better then a thousand elswhere : and I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God , to have imployment there in the meanest office that may entitle me Gods servant upon grounds of just relation , then to dwell at freedome and libertie , in all height of pleasures in the tents of wickednesse , as ye have it in the words next before my text . That is the first Reason .

The second Reason is in the words of my text , wherunto the way hath brought us in a direct course now at the last , upon which ( by Gods blessing ) wee will be bold now to enter ; having the doore orderly opened , For the Lord ( God ) is a Sun and a shield , &c.

And here according to the division of this Verse , I begin with the subjectum , the partie spoken of , which is Dominus Deus , the Lord God .

8. The great Lord Paramount of Heaven and earth by right of Creation , the God of Iacob , as hee is stiled , Verse 8 , the GOD of his Elect and chosen people Israel , the God of all true believers , the children of Abrahams faith , of what Nation soever that the Sun shineth upon . This is he for whose Tabernacle David so longed , before whom all the travailing Israelites were carnest to present themselves at the end of their journey , as their God in whose presence is the fulnesse of joy , and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore , Psal. 16. last verse . And well might they long to appear before such a God in Sion : in Sion , the beauty of the whole earth , as he speaks elswhere , Psal. 48.2 . in Sion , where God appeareth in perfect beauty , Psal. 50.2 . where was that beauty of holinesse , mentioned , 2 Chron. 20.21 . such a beauty as could not be so sufficiently conceived , nor expressed in any termes sutable to our capacity , as by this Metaphor of the Sun in his strength , and therefore hee saith , Dominus Deus est Sol.

9 Obser . A figurative speech , a Metaphor , as Rhetoricians call it , but a most significant one , if rightly understood , fully expressing , that , what the Sun the publike eye of Heaven is to the World , the same is God to the soule of every one that longeth after him with Davids affection . Sol ortu suo coeli tristitiam discutit , noctis tenebras fugat , terram universam illuminat , saith Musculus upon this place . The Sun at his arising pulleth of that sad mantle of darknesse , wherwith his absence had clad the Heavens , dispelleth the sable clouds of night , restoring light and comfort to the whole earth . A passage which is excellently described by the Psalmist , Psal. 19.4 . where hee speaks of the tabernacle of the Sunne set in Heaven , out of which hee commeth as a Bridegroom out of his chamber . A most cleare demonstration of the glorious worke of God in the heart of a Christian , so farre as our weake capacities can conceive . Qui gratia suae aspectu , idem est piorum mentibus , quod Sol virtute suâ universo terrarum orbi , saith the same Expositor : who communicateth not only as much comfort to the souls of the godly by the illumination of his grace , but much more ; then the Sunne doth to the World by the influence of his beames . Hence is it that our blessed Lord , who by Saint Paul is termed the expresse image of the Father , 2 Cor. 4 4. is by Saint Iohn stiled the true light that lighteth every man that commeth into the world . Iohn 1.9 . And it is a thing wherof you cannot be ignorant that the Sun alone with the brightenesse of his beames though he be but one , quite expelleth the darknesse of the night , which the Moon and all the Stars are not able to doe without him : even so our blessed Lord that perfect Sonne of righteousnesse , as the Prophet stiles him , Mal. 4.2 by the rayes of his divine light , not onely dispels those mists of ignorance wherin all men naturally are inveloped , but giveth the true knowledge of that way to salvation , which all Philosophy and humane learning could never lead a man unto : because indeed ( as Saint Paul most truly delivers it ) Colos. 2.3 . in him alone are bidden all the treasures of true wisdome and heavenly knowledge . Again , as in our Horizon when the Sunne in our night-time is subterraneous , all that light which the Moone or Stars have is borrowed by reflexion from the Sun : So in all opinions and doctrines that tend towards Religion , if there be any light at all , it is by reflex from this Sun of the World our blessed Lord Christ Iesus . Most significantly therefore is our God stiled our Sunne , and our blessed Lord the Sonne of God , that life which is the light of men , John 1.4 . And most punctually true is that word of our Saviour , Iohn 3.20 , 21. that every one that doth evill , hateth this light , neither commeth to it , lest his deeds should be discovered : But he that doth truth , commeth to the light , that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God .

Vse . That we may be perswaded , as our blessed Lord hath admonished , while wee have this light , to believe in this light , that we may be the children of light , Iohn 12.36 and while we have this light to walk in this light , lest darknesse come upon us , ibid. v. 35. As never forgetting who it was that said of himselfe , what could never be truly said of any but himself , Iohn 8.12 . Ego sum lux mundi , I am that light of the World , he that followeth mee , shall not walke in darknesse , but shall have the light of life . So that now you have heard how our God is a Sun , now mark how he is a shield also : For our God is a Sun and a shield .

10. The shield is a piece of defensive Armes appropriated to fighting men . And because Christians in the Church Militant have need of protection against the manifold assaults of spirituall enemies , the Lord GOD who is a defender of all those that fight his battails , is elegantly by the Holy Ghost stiled , the shield of his people that put their trust in him . David in his greatest extremity at Ziklag , when his people upon the spoile therof by the Amalekites , spoke of stoning him , and the text saith , he was greatly distressed , yet comforted himselfe in the Lord his God , 1 Sam. 306. And trusting to his protection as to his shield and buckler , consulted him by Abiathar the Priest , and receiving a gracious answer , following the directions of the Oracle , hee recovered all again , as you may reade in the sequell of that Chapter . The Lord hereby giving just cause unto David thus to sing in that his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or triumphant song , when God had delivered him from the hands of all his enemies , and from the hands of Saul , 2 Sam. 22.1 . at verse 35. Dedisti mihi clypeum salutis tuae , Thou hast given mee the shield of thy salvation , as Saint Ierome reads it . Thus was hee Davids shield . A patterne for religious Princes . Moses and Aaron in the like distresse , when the whole Congregation cryed out to stone them , were safe under the protection of this shield , and when all humane help failed , were rescued by the appearing of the glory of the Lord , at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation , before all the children of Israel , Numb. 14.10 . Thus was the Lord God a shield to Moses and Aaron ▪ A patterne for pious Governours in Church or State . Abraham in all his peregrinations from Vr of the Caldees unto and in the land of Canaan was safe under this shield , even as God had promised saying , Gen. 15.1 . Fear not Abraham , I am thy shield . A president for all the faithfull , the children of Abrahams saith , whether Iews or Gentiles in what distresse soever that can affront them in this vale of tears : To shew them , that if they trust in the Lords protection in their wayes of obedience , they may sing with the Church , even when the world saith of them , there is no helpe for them : But thou , ô Lord , art my shield , thou art my glory and the lifter up of my head , Psal. 3.2 , 3. For thou , Lord , will blesse the righteous , and with favour wilt thou compasse him as with a shield . Psal. 5.12 . For why ? Behold , the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him , upon them that hope in his mercy , Psal. 33.18 . To deliver their souls from death , and to keepe them alive in famine , ibid. verse 19. upon which assurance Gods children may sing joyfully , as ibid. verse 20. Our soule wayteth for the Lord , he is our helpe and our shield .

Thus have you heard how the Lord is a shield also .

And yet this is not all the instruction that these words afford us .

II. For even in this conjunction of the Sunne and Shield , is a marvellous comfort laid up for true believers , if it be rightly considered , Deus Sol illuminationis , Deus Clypeus protectionis , saith Musculus , upon this Text , God is the Sun of his Church to enlighten the same with saving knowledge , that his people may understand the way wherin hee would have them to walke , and to direct all their goings : to make good that of the Psalmist , Psal 37.23 . The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord , and hee delighteth in his wayes . This Sun alone doth light us into the way wherin himself would have us to walk , and out of which way wee may expect no blessing . And , because , even in this warrantable way the afflictions of the righteous are many , Psal. 34.19 . God contenteth not himself to be our Sun only to direct , but he is our shield to protect us also : liberabit eos omnibus afflictionibus , the Lord wil deliver them out of all , as it followeth in that part of the Psalme .

12. Again , because as S. Paul fpeaks , Act. 14 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. Wee must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of God : therfore is our God our shield , as to defend us from affronts under his protection , so , to enable us to bear those wee meet with , not suffering us to be tempted above our strength , 1 Cor. 10.13 . nor yet our faith to faile , Luke 22.32 . 〈◊〉 the very houre of temptation , be wil keep us from the evill of it , Revel. 3.10 . and in the deepest distresse therby will make his Grace sufficient for us , that his strength may be made perfect in our weaknesse , 2 Cor. 12.9 . In a word , the Lord our God is a Sunne to his Church according to the promise of our blessed Redeemer , shining in our hearts by that spirit of truth , who guideth into all truth , Iohn 16.13 . And the Lord is the shield of his Church , being with the same alwayes even unto the end of the World , Matth. 28 , last verse , That the gates of hell may never prevaile against it , as our blessed Lord hath promised , Matth. 16.18 .

13. And doubtlesse wee have very great reason to depend upon this truth , by building our faith upon the illumination of this Sun , and protection of this shield : seeing ( as it followeth in the next words of this verse ) it is this Sun alone that giveth grace , this shield that giveth glory . Deus enim Sol & clypeus , dabit gratiam & gloriam . The Lord will give grace , saith the text . Most truely , whether it be the first touch and beginning of Grace in the heart of a Christian , or it be the progresse and increase of it , or it be the perfecting thereof in the soule ; it is freely Gods gift . Dominus dat , Saint Iames affirmeth it positively , Iames 1.17 . Every good gift , and every perfect giving is from above , and commeth down from the Father of lights , where it is not altogether unworthy your noting that he stileth God patrem luminum , in relation to the Metaphor in our Text , where hee is called our Sunne , That we may know that whersoever our God is not by the influence of his light , there is all darknesse without any exception , according to the sence of the holy Ghost in our Text. If wee looke upon man in his naturall estate , hee is not onely lame , but dead in sins and trespasses , Ephes. 2 1 By the influence therfore of Gods Spirit , there must be created in us a new lise that was not , and not onely the former life excited which was , according to that of the Psalmist , Psal. 51.10 . Create in mee a new heart , ô Lord , not onely stirre up that clean one which hath been somwhat defiled , saith a reverend Bishop of our own Church , in his Roma irreconciliabilis , cap. de libero arbitrio . Nay , I goe further , and by the warrant of Scripture too : The old heart which is naturally dead in sinne must be taken away , and a new heart by Grace put in the room therof , Ezek. 11.19 , 20. I will put a new spirit within you , and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh , and will give you an heart of flesh : that yee may walke in mine Ordinances , and keep my statutes to do them . So absolute is that truth which we deduce from the words of our Text , that the first touch and beginning of Grace in the heart of a Christian is the free gift of God , and that without the influence of this Sun , there can be no light of Grace in the heart . Yea , but when the Grace of God is kindled in the heart of a Christian , who shall blow it up to a flame ? Is man able of himselfe to doe it ? Oh , no : Without me yee can do nothing , saith our blessed Lord , Ioh. 15.5 . Without the grace of God both preventing and assisting wee are no more able to prosper and grow in grace , then the branch which abideth not in the Vine is able to bring forth fruit , Iohn 15.4 . And , as for growing towards perfection , S. Paul delivereth it positively , that God the Father hath by his Sonne our Redeemer appointed the work of the Ministery for the perfecting of the Saints , for the edifying of the body of Christ , till wee all come in the unity of faith , and knowledge of the Son of God , unto a perfect man , unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ , Ephes. 4 12 , 13. So that it is God alone who by his blessing upon his holy Ordinances , the preaching of the Word , and administration of his Sacraments conscionably waited upon , bringeth this worke to effect .

To speake yet more particularly . Every man by nature is both ignorant and an unbeliever : who shall now give him spirituall understanding ? who shall perswade him to believe ? The naturall man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God , for they are foolishnesse unto him , neither can he know them , saith Saint Paul , meaning , while hee resteth in his natural estate , because they are spiritually discerned , 1 Cor. 2.14 . It must be therfore a beame from this Sun mentioned in our Text , that must lighten mans eyes that he sleep not in death , Psal. 13.3 . For it is God alone that giveth grace to understand the things that belong to our eternall peace . As rouching believing the Gospell unto salvation , which is only by a true and lively faith : this is not in the heart of man by nature it is the gift of God onely , who purifieth the heart by faith , as hee did the hearts of the Gentiles at their first conversion to Christianity . Acts 15.9 . As touching Repentance , who can deny it to be the immediate gift of God , that shall reade what Saint Peter so positively delivereth , Acts 15.31 . How God by his owne right hand hath exalted his Son lesus to be a Prince & a Saviour , to give repentance unto Israel for remission of sins . Take the word then as you will , it falleth out most true , that God giveth Grace , the beginnings , the increasings , the perfection of grace : the grace to know God aright , to believe unto salvation , to repent and to turn from sin ; it is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe , saith Saint Paul , Phillip. 2.13 . Inabling you to worke out your own salvation with feare and trembling , Phillip. 2.12 . Dominus dat gratiam , as it is in my Text.

14. And as he giveth grace , so glory also . Hence is it that the Lord hath promised by the Prophet Isaiah , That he will be a crown of glory , and a Diademe of beauty unto his people , Jsa. 28.5 . as also , that the Sun shall be no more their light by day , nor the Moon by night : but , saith he , the Lord shall be to thee an everlasting light , and thy God thy glory , Isa. 60.19 . Hence it is that Saint Paul to the Corinthians , maketh mention of an eternall and exceeding weight of glory , 2 Cor. 4.17 . and of Christs bringing many sonnes to glory : Heb. 2.10 . That yee may know ( as our Psalmist singeth most sweetly ) that it is God alone who guideth his people with his grace , and so fitteth them for glory . Thou wilt guide me with thy counsaile , and afterwards receive me to giory , Psal. 73.24 . according to the words of my Text , the Lord will give grace and glory .

15. And yet ( which I desire you to observe with mee out of the order of the words ) first , Grace , then Glory . For whomsoever God did for know , he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son , saith S. Paul , Ro. 8.29 . and whom he predestinateth to glory , them he calleth by his grace to the knowledge of himselfe : whom he calleth , them he justifieth , and whom he justifieth , them he glorifieth , ibid. v. 30. so that the high road towards Heaven and glorification there , is the way of grace by sanctification here . The Romans in their blindnes●e of Heathenisme had a glimpse of this , and therfore they so contrived the building of the Temple of Honour , that there was no way into it but by going first through the Temple of Vertue : that men might learn to seek honor onely by a course of vertue . Which should be the care of true Christians much more , as who cannot be ignorant that except they live here the life of grace , there can be no expectation of glory in the life to come , God is the God of Order , not of confusion , and as in natural things hee useth to proceed from one extreme to another by degrees , through the means ; so doth he in this spirituall worke , the salvation of mans soule . The Sun doth not at one jumpe leap from his rising place to the highestpiton in the South , but in processe of certaine houres accomplisheth it by noon . The seasons of the yeare are not altered in one day from scorching heat to nipping cold , but by degrees : so in spirituall things God never bringeth any man from his estate in sinne to the estate of glory , but through the estate of grace , for God giveth grace and glory . And no good thing will hee withhold from them that walke uprightly , as it followeth in the last clause of this verse , to which I now descend .

16. Nihil boni detraket in synceritate ambulantibus , He will withhold nothing : For , all things are yours , saith Saint Paul to his Corinthians , 1 Cor. 3.21 . Whether Paul , or Apollos , or Cephas , or the world , or life , or death , or things present , or things to come , all are yours : And why ? for you are Christs , and Christ is Gods , ibid. verse 22 , 23. Nay , further , He will withhold no good thing from them that walke uprightly . Nothing that his divine wisdome shall see to be good indeed : nothing , that may truly and really be conducing to their good for he hath said in our Text , Nihil boni detrahit , No good thing will hee withhold from them that walke uprightly .

17. But here a double question commeth to be answered . First , who are those that walk uprightly ? Secondly , How is this true concerning them , that God withholds no good thing from them ? To the first demand , who those are that walk uprightly : I answer : Not those onely who fulfill every point of the law in their life and carriage in that exact manner and degree as is required , nor those alone who are punctual in an outward habit of righteousnes , as the Pharisies among the Iews . Nor those Iusticiaries of Rome , who professe not onely to doe all that is commanded , but to merit by works of supererogation : but such onely as walk before God , that is , live , as in his sight , with a perfect heart , as David professed , Psal. 101.2 . such as walke before God , as Abraham was commanded , Gen. 17.1 . being perfect , or rather ( as our margine their reads it ) being upright or sincere : Sincerus , a word borrowed from honey , as the Grammarians will have it , which , the purer it is sine cerâ without waxe , the more pleasant and wholsome it is ; denoting unto us , that sincerity of heart in the middest of humane infirmities , as it is the greatest perfection wee can arrive at in this world , so it is that which God requireth and accepteth of us . Because ( as a Reverend Divine of our own said ) great vertues not sweetned with sincerity are no ornament unto us : and great infirmities not sowred with hypocrisie , are no great deformities in the eye of Almighty God , those God acknowledgeth not : these he imputes not . The many infirmities that escaped David in his life time , were covered by the holy Ghost with the mantle of charity , because his sincerity was 〈◊〉 shaken with them , as it was with his 〈…〉 murther : as you may read 1 Kings 15.5 . where it is said of him that his heart was upright in all things save onely in the matter of Vriah . As were also the Infirmities of Asa King of Iuda in not taking away the high places , where it is said of him in his story , 1 Kings 15.14 . Nevertheles Asa his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days . So that sincerity of heart , when it is not divided as Os●a speaks , Osea 10.2 . but is bestowed upon God in simplicity , as it is the most , that man can performe , so it is all that God expects , and so our first question is answered . To the second , How is it true that GOD withholds no good thing from them that walk uprightly ? seeing many of Gods dearest children are often exposed to hard measures , and 〈◊〉 of those things which the wicked enjoy in abundance ? I answer . First , wee must leave it to God to appoint what hee seeth good for us , not be our own carvers : submitting to his divine will and pleasure in what distresse soever , as David did when hee said , 2 Sam. 15.26 . Behold , here I am , let the Lord doe unto me as seemeth good unto him . And , secondly , wee must cast our selves upon his divine power and love towards us ; who is both able and willing to make all things work together for good to them who depend upon him , Rom. 8.28 . And , thirdly , we must take notice that though God in his divine wisdome hath so appointed , that through much tribulation , true Christians must enter into the Kingdome of God , Acts 14.22 . because many are the troubles of the righteous , Psal. 34.19 . yet hee that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth , Psal. 121.4 . and in the deepest affliction his helpe is still at hand to supply all our wants as hee did for Elias in the wildernesse , to moderate our sufferings that they may not be more then wee shall be enabled to beare , 1 Cor. 10.13 . to uphold us by his grace , making that sufficient for us , 2 Cor. 12.9 . And lastly , to deliver us in conclusion either by taking the trouble from us as hee did from the three children , that it shall not have power to destroy us , or by taking us from it , that it may not have power to reach us , translating us into that paradise where no Serpent shall have power to enter , so that every way hee will make good his word , wee shall have whatsoever is good for us , if not in our owne esteeme , yet in Gods al-disposing wisdome and government , and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk upright : for the Lord God is a Sun and a shield : Hee will give grace and glory , and no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly . And so I have done with the explication of these words , now for a word of application , and so I conclude . This Text of Scripture , as you see , hath acquainted us with some of those prime priviledges which our heavenly Father by the power of his divine prerogative of his speciall grace and favour hath given and granted , and by these presents in this Text , doth give and grant to all his faithfull children that endevour to walk before him in sincerity and uprightnesse of heart : And , that is , that he will be to all such a Sun of direction , and a shield of protection : hee will give them grace and glory , and no good thing will hee withhold from them as I have shewed you at large . Now had I the way or meanes to have procured from our Gracious Soveraigne any addition to the Priviledges and Immunities of our Company , and could I now present the same unto you confirmed under the broad Seale of England , I should not doubt of a kinde acceptance and love for my pains . Behold , I have here presented you with better Priviledges under the great Seal of Heaven , extracted from the most sacred , and authenticall Word of God , delivered unto you in his Name , and as his Minister , whom God the Father hath sealed , Iohn 6.27 . and I give you a faire assurance of all those priviledges in this Text to be conferred upon all you that will sue out your Patent for the same , by the way which God requireth . And if any shall yet doubt which is the right way to have his patent confirmed from the King of Heaven in this case , let him looke upon the last words of this Text , and they will tell you , hee must walke uprightly before God : And then all the priviledges in this Text are yours , God hath promised them , and hee will make them good : God will be unto you a Sun and a shield , the Lord will give grace and glory : and no good thing will heo with-hold from them that walke uprightly . Whereunto that I may prevaile with you to render your willing and constant obedience , take this one motive to think upon when you see not me . So often as you cast your eye upon the Armes of our Company , and thereby are put in minde that you are free Drapers , call to minde this text of Scripture , and take notice , that the beams of that Sun spoken of in my Text are a part of your Armes , and the shield therein mentioned as a token of defence is denoted by that expression of a Soveraigne Regal power al-sufficient for protection , which the three Crowns may put you in minde of : and that way of Christianity wherin you are to walk in uprightnesse of heart is emblematized by the Crosse , which is set as the Crest upon the head of your Armes . And make you full account , that these words are not words of course onely , they have somewhat in them worthy your most serious consideration : you see your devise is very significant , and may without much strayning be drawn from this Text : Think it therefore not unworthy your Meditations at convenient seasons , and call to minde what God hath spoken unto you upon this Text and by it , and suffer to this end a word of exhortation . As you desire to be directed by the gracious beames of this heavenly Sun mentioned in our Text , in all your fair undertakings , whereunto your lawfull callings shall ingage you in your temporall affaires : As you desire the comfortable direction of this Sun to guide you into all truth in things that concerne your spirituall estate : As you desire to be preserved from such erroneous courses , as your owne darke mistakings might expose you unto , whether in the necessaries of this life , that your credit break not here , or in the eternall comforts of another life , that you perish not there everlastingly : Have an eye to the directions of this Sun of righteousnesse , in whom are hid all the treasures of true wisdome , and saving knowledge : Let the Lord God be your Sunne : As ever you trust to finde the protection of this heavenly shield to defend you from all oppositions in your lawfull way , seeke daily direction from him who is your Sun , and walke in the wayes whereunto hee shall direct you , as ever remembring that he hath not promised to be a shield to any , but to those who are carefull to follow the Sun of his directions ; nor will he be a shield , but where he is a Sunne . As you expect to obtain true saving grace , seeke it of him who is the onely giver of it , and seek it in the carefull and frequent use of his holy Ordinances , wherin hee hath promised to give it . For the Lord giveth grace .