of men be infected withall Manie lustie yonkers thinke not them-selues braue inough except they can looke bigge speake stoutlie and picke a quarrell against euerie simple man dealing hardlie with all sorts that they can come by they thinke all is well gotten How common this kinde of dealing hath bene I leaue it to the consideration of others And for that diuers haue fallen to a great sobrietie and liued orderlie since they learned Religion God is to be praised and God encrease the number They be not made Souldiers to doe wrong but to correct them that offer wrong they enter not that trade to liue without law but to bring them in obedience that offend the law They may not thinke the Princes coffers to be at their disposition but must content them-selues with wages and that portion that is alotted to them He that dealeth other waies getteth it vniustlie though he thinketh he dealeth so cunninglie that it cannot be espied yet the righteous Lord wil punish it in this world to his shame if he be not more merciful most greeuouslie in the world to come Thus praier and pollicy ioyned togither make a perfect worke and the one halteth if it want the other Dauid when he fought with Goliah though he refused King Sauls Armour yet he tooke his Sling and stones in his shepheards bagge and calling vppon the Lord ouerthrew that Giant mightelie So shall it be in Gods Church when the ministers and people pray earnestlie the Preachers speake boldlie beat downe sinne mightelie and watch night and day that Sathan by his members creepe not in subtilly disturbe the flocke of Christ. God graunt vs so to watch and praie that the Lords name maie be worthelie praised in vs for so S. Paul teacheth be diligent in prayer watching in it with thankes giuing And S. Luke saith watch pray at al times that ye may scape all the euils which are to come This kinde of fighting against all fierie assaults of Sathan is as necessarie in Gods Church as open warr is against the enemies of the cōmon wealth 10. And Iudas said This gappe was not so soone stopt but there bursteth forth another worsse then that Open enemies can doe litle harme if the other parties within be true amongst them-selues But if the souldiers within the Citie fall at a Mutinie among themselues disobey their captaine discourage their fellowes or worke anie treason drawing parties togither then the daunger within is greater then anie can be without The greatest parte of the tribe of Iuda now waxe faint-hearted drawe backe discourage their fellowes murmure against the Captaines and would gladlie leaue working A perilous practise in such a daungerous time and able to ouerthrow all One coward in an armie breaking the aray running awaie or discouraging the rest maie easelie discomfet the whole armie But here come now a great companie not of the meanest sort but of the Kings tribe of Iuda and they murmure they discourage they disswade and hinder the worke as much as they maie The Israchtes in Egipt when Pharaoh encreased their labour because Moses and Aaron would haue them deliuered they crie out on Moses Aaron for their weldoing When they were come out of Egipt and wanted their fleshpottes they crie out of Moses and Aaron which brought them out and would returne againe into Egipt The spies that were sent afore to bring word what a people and countrie they should come vnto were faint-hearted and discouraged the rest saying the men were great Giants their Cities stronger then they could conquere though the ground was fruitfull and pleasant of it selse Thus Sathan neuer ceaseth to deuise something to ouerthrow Gods building The reasons that Iudas alledgeth were great and able to perswade any man first the workmen were wearie say they their shoulders aked with bearing so manie heauie burthens their strength was gone they were not able to beare anie more Secondlie there was much morter to carie awaie both of the olde rubbish of thebroken walls and also new morter to be brought in for the new building The Hebrew word will serue for both which I had rather follow though some learned applie it onelie to the olde rubbish of the olde walls and some to the new morter to be caried for the new building This troubled Nehemiah more then anie bragges of his enemies abroade For of these he looked for help and of the others none These should haue comforted him and now they discomfort Now he must first pacifie and please the men then he must comfort them and also stirre them vp to their worke lest others should faint and fall awaie as well as they It is an easie matter to begin a good worke but a speciall gift to stand in all stormes and continue to the end The proud Papist at this daie at whose hands no goodnes is to be looked for neyther toward God nor good man doeth not hinder the building of Gods Church and preferring of his gospell so much as these faint-hearted Protestants white liuered Hipocrites double dissemblers and seruers of time When they set them downe and looke into the world what saie they we haue wrought our selues wearie these fiftie yeares and profited litle our showlders ake the more Popish rubbish we carie a waie the more we see remaine behind Our open enemies are so many and so cruell that they wil not let vs worke our friends are so weake that they are not able to help them-selues and vs manie of those that seeme to be friendes are saint hearted waxe colde and deale cunninglie against a new day and a chaunge doe come and 〈◊〉 we shall be left in the bryers So much olde Popish rubbish is left behinde in the Church that it will neuer be caried out so much new good order and discipline is to be brought in that it is hard to tell whether it be a harder matter to carie out the olde dreggs or to bring in new morter to build new walls How manie haue they burned how greedelie doe they gape to be broyling againe S. Peter in the Actes of the Apostles asketh why they would goe about to lay that yoke of Moses Ceremonies on the necke of the disciples which neyther they nor their fathers were able to beare And if that might be trulie said then of those ceremonies which came from God himselfe how much more may it be verified now on those which come from the Pope the father of all superstition The double dealing of wyly wordlings is such that it is to be feared this popish rubbish will neuer be cleane rubbed of For we euer keepe some Romish roume in store to turne our selues on so oft as the world shall turne And this olde Iudas may well be a figure of the latter Iudas that betraied our master Christ and al other such hipocrits which being faint hearted would betraie the building and builders that Gods Citie should not be finished There is great
afore him were buried in a place kept for that vse onelie And the Gospel teacheth that with the money which Iudas solde Christ our Lord for they bought the potters fielde to burie straungers in These places were sometimes within Cities some-times without as Iesus Christ our Master was buried in a garden without the citie Ierusalem and he met the poore widow of Naim at the gates of the Citie going farther to burie her sonne It was long after afore they vsed either Church or Church-yeards Like wise mourning for the dead would be bridled that it be not to much and seeme to grudge at Gods doings in taking our friends from vs. Dauid wept for his childe and praied whilest it was sick but after it was dead he wept no more Our sauiour Christ cast the minstrels and mourners both out of the dores when he raised vp the young woman in her fathers house By which we are taught that we should not daunce with minstrels for that is to barbarous against nature nor to be greeued with the death ofour friends nor desperatlie mourne with the heathen as though there were no life after this I would not haue you ignorant saith S. Paul of them that sleepe in death that ye mourne not as they that haue no hope to rise againe Sirach appointeth a reasonable time for reasonable mourning saying mourning for the dead is two or three dases and before he addeth or seauen daies at the most The cost that is made for the dead is rather as S. Aug. saith ful wel a comfort for the liuing then help for the dead For sure it is comfortable to all good folke to see our freind in his life-time to haue behaued him selfe so honestlie that his neighbours beare him so good will after his death that they will see him buried and it strengthneth our faith of the resurrection when the bodies are not cast away as beastes bodies be And although this generall doctrine of comelynes be most true comfortable yet many times the case falleth out so that manie a good man cannot enioy this kinde of burial In persecution many good martyrs haue bene deuoured of wylde beastes many torne in peeces hanged on gibbets manie burned their ashes cast into the water yet these good mē were nothing the worsse for wanting their graue For the kingdome of God standeth not in outward things but in true faith in God by Christ. For as it profiteth not an euil mā any thing at al to be solemnly buried so it hurteth not a good mā to want it in these cases if he cannot get it Euerie one shal receiue then as he hath done in his life not after his death nor his costlie burial We read of the rich glutton that he was buried no doubt costlie as all his life was gorgious but poore Lazarus gatt little cost at his death that could finde so little mercie in his life yet was the glutton in hell for al his pompe and poore Lazarus in Abrahams bosome in ioy But among all other foolishnes in Poperie I cannot but marueile at this that in their great solemne singing for the dead they would not vse but forbid Alleluyia to be songe If the Romish Church be the true Church and all well that they commaund why should the late Synagogue of Roome deface that which the best Bishoppes of Roome alowed of I erom writeth in his 30. Epistle called Epitaphium Fabiolae that at the buriall of that noble woman the people of Roome were gathered to the solemne funerall and there the Psalmes did sound aloud and Alleluyia rebounding with his Eccho on high did shake the gylded seelings of the Temple On one side a company of yong men on another side were old men which songe forth the prayses and deedes of that good woman And no marueile said he if men reioyce ofhir saluation of whose conuersion the Angels in heauen were glad The like is written in the 27. Epistle ad Eusto chium for her mother Paula In this I note the olde Church of Roome that at such solemne sunerals they sang Alleluyia on high as the Papists doe now on Easter day Then they praysed god for the dead for so Alleluya signifieth and now they pray god for the dead to get money with-all Then they reioyced of their saluation now they weepe for feare of the Popes purgatory Blessed are thoy that dio in the lord saith Saint Iohn Why then they goe not from paines here to miserie there Why should the new Romish Synagogue mislike that good ancient order the one of them must needs erre which manie thinke cannot be and specially in this our age There be other controuersies in these our dayes abroad which might haue beene verie well left vntouched if the quietnes of Gods Church had bene dutifullie sought as it ought to be As whither the ministers should burie the dead as the common order appointeth and whither burial-sermons are to be suffered and vsed c. This place giueth no great occasion to intreat of such matters and therefore I shall let them passe I loue not contention but doe earnestlie require euery one in his calling for Gods cause to seeke peace with all their might those that professe Iesus Christ I desire the Lord that they would ioyne with their Breethren in pulling downe the Romish Antechrist the common enemy of all Gods doctrine and Religion leauing such vnprofitable contentions which breede deuision And if they haue to many burial sermons in the citie God graunt vs some moe in the countrie Thus much haue I spoken by occasion of Nehemiahs mourning for the place of his fathers burial not for the losse of the houses Citie or walles or that he was troubled with such superstitious opinions of thinking any holynes in the place or that the dead folke weare any thing worsse in wanting their couering in the earth but that he was greeued to see the Citie which God chose him selfe to be worshiped in and those good men whose bones did rest there or had faithfullie serued the Lord in their life now to be giuen to heathen mens hands Gods Religion neglected the state of the common-wealth and good lawes ouerthrowne Gods enemies to triumph ouer them as though their god could not or would not restore them This shouldgreeue all Christians in all ages when they see the glory of the liuing God any waies blemished God graunt vs this zeale vnfeynedlie 4. And the King sayd After that the King vnderstood the cause of his sorowe and sadde countenance he both pitied the case and his mans heuie heart and God so mooued the King to fauour his sute that he asked him what he wonld haue When Nehemiah perceiued the kings good inclination towards him his sute afore he would declare his petition he turned him vnto the God of heauen praied him that he would so guide his tongue that he should speake nothing
building haue their names written in this boke to What more blessed then is he that hindereth Salomon teacheth and saith the remembrance of the righteous is to his praise But the name of the wicked stinketh This is then the difference and thou maist choose whither thou wilt be remembred to thy praise or to thy shame with the good will of the liuing or hatred But by this answere of Nehemiah when he saith that they haue no parte right nor remembrance in Ierusalē it is partly giuen vs to vnderstand that when they could not hinder this worke by big brags threatnings they offred them-selues to ioine with them in this building to take their part beare the charges fellowlike for why should he deny them these except they required it But Nehemiah a wise man would neither be afraid of them as open enemies nor receiue them into his fellowship as feined friends Wherein he teacheth al true Christians how to behaue them-selues in building of Gods house That is neyther to feare the one nor to receiue the other S. Paul saith be not yoked with infidels what hath rightousnes to doe with vnrighteousnes light with darknes or Christ with Belial Gods people are knit togither with two bonds the one is Christ their head who giueth life to al members of the bodie the other is brotherlie loue among them selues But neither of these can be found in Idolaters for they neither take Christ for their head and liue by him nor they loue not Christians as their breetheren but dissemble with God and man All Christians haue one God one father one baptisme one Religion one law to liue vnder and one heauenlie kingdome to looke for but Infidels and hipocrites haue manie Gods al Religions be alike vnto them they liue as they list and that is their law and will to goe to heauen after their owne deuise if they can get it Yet they haue a delite to thrust them-selues in among Gods people pretending a loue vnto them where in deede it is for no good will but to learne their secret counsels and purposes that by such meanes they maie betraie them when occasion serueth But wise builders will admit them into no fellowship nor friendship as Nehemiah here vtterlie refuseth them and will haue nothing to doe with them But this case is more plainlie propounded to Ezra and there I haue spoken more largelie of it and Ezra plainlie determineth the matter there who so list to reede and consider God be praised A. PRAIER WHereas of thy great power most gratious God thou hast not onelie made the hearts of all men but farther of thy plenteous mercie hast taken into thy custodie and defence the hearts of all those that thou hast chosen in Christ Iesu to serue thee graunt vs heauenly father we be seech thee such an earnest loue to the building of thy house and citie as thou gauest to thy faithful seruant Nehemiah that as he was sad gaue him-selfe to praier and fasting and could not be merie vntil he found grace in the Kings sight to repaire thy decaied house and wasted Citie Ierusalem so we by diligent praier calling on thy name and humblie submitting our selues to thy blessed will and pleasure maie not cease crying at thy throne of mercie vntil we by the meanes of our spookesman Christ Iesus thy sonne and our Lord mate finde such fauour at thy hands that by the assistance of thy holie spirit according to our calling we maie euerie one of vs build the heauenlie Ierusalem set vp the kingdome of thy crucifiep Christ and with one consent pull downe the tiranny of Antichrist to thy eternal glorie and comfort of our consciences And as thou then mouedst the hearts of heathen Kings not onlie by lawes commissions and commandements to giue licence to euery one that would repaire thy house but also with great gifts and liber all rewards to set it forwards so now most louing Lord moue the hearts we be seech thee of all Christian Princes humbly to throw their scepter at thy feete with all their powre lawes Commissions commandements that they maie by the authoritie committed vnto them procure the speedie repairing of thy heauenly kingdome with their liberalitie mainteine the builders of the same And alas O Lord we are so weake of our selues and impotent to doe these thinges without thee that considering our miserable case extreame neede driueth vs impudentlie to craue thy fatherlie goodnes not onely to graunt vs al these thy blessings but farther to confound the wicked deuises of al greedy raueners that seeke the spoile defacing of thy Church defend vs from thy foes our mortal enemies Sanballat and his partakers that we be not afraid of their proud braggs nor deceiued by their subtill practises Thou most mightie Lord maist not onelie giue vs all good things but also deliuer and defend vs from all ill for of our selues we can doe neither of them to our selues Raise vs vp such rulers ô god we most humblie be seech thee both in the church common wealth as may and will with the spirit of boldnesse incourag the dull spirites of the feareful and wauering people couragiouslie to goe forward in thy building as Nehemiah did that neyther mocking nor threatning of the Romish Sanballat his members nor the craftie practises of the flattering Ammonites preuaile against vs but with all might and maine we all may be found true workemen in thy house so farre forth as our vocation shall streatch to the confusion of thy enemies thy eternall praise our endlesse comfort in Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord and gratious sauiour Amen CHAP. 3. BEcause this chapter standeth most in describing the building of the walles of Ierusalem by whom they were done and what parte euery one did repaire rehearsing the name both of the builders and of the portions of the walls that they tooke in hand to finish which thing seemeth straunge or rather vnprofitable to the people that vnderstand not the misteries of it nor the fashion and situation of the Citie I shall in few wordes passe ouer things not so necessarie for the edifiing of the vnlearned not only such things as may encrease the faith of the simple vnlearned for whose profit chiefelie this labour is taken and also in reforming their liues may moue and stirre them to a more carefull building of the spirituall Ierusalem which thing is chiefelie to be learned here and to the which euerie one is bound with all his powre to imploy him selfe and all that he hath The holie Ghost who is the author of the holie Scripture hath not put downe anie one word in writing whither in the new testament or in the old that is eyther superstitious or vnprofitable though it seeme so to many but it hath his misterie and signification for our learning and eyther for the plainnes of it it may be vnderstood of all men or els for the deepe misteries
that be hid in it is to be reuerenced of all sorts of men and with diligence and prayer is to be searched out as far as we may The new building of this olde destroyed Citie by Gods enemies putteth vs in remembrance how Sathan by his members had ouerthrowne Gods Citie and chosen people and where now all sortes of men lay on hands Iustelie to repaire it againe it teacheth vs our duetie how diligent euerie one should be in his degree to the restauring of Gods Citie his Church to his olde beautie and strength againe This Citie Ierusalem was first called Salem or Solyma where Melchisedech was king and met Abraham returning with the spoile which he recouered from the king of Sodom and his fellowes Melchisedech by interpretation of his name is first called the King of righteousnes and after the King of Salem that is of peace who representeth vnto vs Christ Iesus as the Epistle to the Hebrewes saith which is the King of all righteousnes and by whome all we are made righteous as the Apostle saith and is a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech and offered vp that sweete and sauing sacrifice of his owne bodie and hearts blood to pacifie the wrath of God against man and make peace betwixt them both as it is written to the Eph. 2. This citie afterwards was called Iebus where the Iebusits one of the nations did dwel whose land god gaue to his people of Israel these Iebusits came of the cursed seede of Canaan whome Noe his father cursed for mocking him in his drunkennes and inhabited this countrie vntill that worthie king Dauid recouered the strongest parte of it from them called Sion named it the Citie of Dauid after himselfe That noble captaine Iosue in deede conquered the whole land and deuided it among the Israelites but these Iebusits were partlie so strong dwelling in the mountaines that they could not be vanquished in short time partly the people so negligent that they wold not driue them out or destroy them as they were commaunded but suffered them to dwel among them to their great shame harme for they were euer like thornes in their sides to prick hurt them as it is written Iosue 23. Whereby we learne that as the Iebusites Gods enemies could not fully be conquered vntil Dauid came no more could the kingdome of Sathan be cleane ouerthrown vntill Christ Iesus the King of glory was borne of the seede of Dauid who conquered sin hel the deuil and possessed the holy hill Sion and made his people citizens of the heauenlie Ierusalem And like as they suffered the Iebusits to dwell amongst them to their great harme so sinne remaineth in our mortall bodies conquered in deede that it doeth not reigne ouer those that serue the Lord yet not cleane taken away but left for our exercise who hauing our mortal enemie dwelling within vs should fight against sinne vnder the banner of faith in Christ Iesus who onelie hath can and will continuallie defend his people subdue their enemies and giue his children the victorie How King Dauid wanne this Citie from the Iebusits is fullie declared in the 2. of Sam. 5. chapter And how Christ Iesus the Sonne of God conquered the whole kingdome of Sathan sinne death and hell the whole historie of the gospell declareth And as king Dauid when he had reigned 33. yeares noblie in Ierusalem died with great victorie so Christ Iesus our Lord and graundcaptaine after he had preached the kingdome of his father gat this noble victorie against death and all his enemies in the 33. yeare of his age by suffering death and triumphantlie ascending into heauen where he reigneth a glorious King for euer After that Dauid had recouered this Citie from the Iebusites it was continually called Ierusalem which is by interpretation the Lord he will see Salem alluding to both the olde names ioyned togither Iebus Salem chaunging one letter onelie In the gospel it is called the holie citie as when the deuil tempted Christ he tooke him into the holie Citie and set him on a pinacle of the temple which name it gate rather of the holie law word and Sacrifices that were taught there and offered then of that wicked and vnholie people that denied the Lord of life and required Barrabas to be deliuered But when it was destroied by the Romanes and not one stone left standing on another as Christ foretold it should be Elius Adrianus the Emperour for vaine glorie builded a new Citie and called it after his owne name Elia or Capitolina And when the heathen had gotten it from the Christians Pope Vrbane the second kept a councell in Fraunce and by his flattering friers stirred vp all Princes to recouer the holie land againe more like a superstitious Iewe putting holinesse in the place which then was inhabited with wicked people then like a true preacher of true holinesse But it cost manie Princes their liues lands and goods and yet not recouered wherof England felt his parte when King Richard the first went thither and was taken prisoner paid a great Raunsome to the impouerishing of the Realme As God gaue this Citie and people falling from him into his enemies hands so will he cast vs vp if we frowardly forsake him This Citie Ierusalem aster that it was recouered from the Iebusites was inlarged and fortified by Dauid Salomon Ozias and Ezechias and other good kings and had within it two chiefe hils Sion where the Kings Palace was built Moria where the temple was And after when the people encreased other two hils were taken into it Acra and Bethera as Iosephus writeth It had three wardes and walles within it Within the Innermost wall was the Kings Palace and Temple and the Preists lodging in the midle ward were the Prophets noble-men their schooles Leuits and Doctors By which we are taught how to place and esteeme learning and learned men schooles vniuersities and preachers which are not now much regarded In the vttermost dwell the Citizens marchants and artificers It was then 4. miles about and after enlarged to 6. It was most glorious in the time of our sauiour Christ for Herod and Agrippa had made great cost on it and Christ wept for it Dauid in the 48. Psalme describeth the beautie and strength of this Citie and biddeth them goe round about it marke and behold it and count the towers of it that were manie that the Lord might be praised for it The vttermost wall had towres 90. The midle wall had towres 14. And the innermost wall had towres 60. In the whole 164. towres as Iosephus and others doe write But I take it that it was so rather in the time of Christ then of Dauid or of this building now for as it increased in wealth beautie and strength so it did in pride riotousnes superstition contempt ofGod al wickednes so that this last and vtter destruction was at hand for refusing
crucifying cōdemning the sonne of god their sauiour When-soeuer the scripture speaketh of any going to this Citie it saieth commonly they went vp to Ierusalem because it was built so on hils that on what side soeuer thou camest in thou sholdst goe vp an hill which though it seeme a small matter to be noted yet God which doeth nothing in vaine as he did by other outward things teach that grosse people heauenly things as here in this clyming vp to this earthly citie they left worldly things beneath them in the vallies so they that would pray vnto the Lord or seeke the heauenlie Ierusalem must climbe vp by faith into heauen to the mercie seat and throne of grace casting awaie all worldly cares and leauing that behind The common opinion is that Adam our first father dwelt and was buried here in this Citie And the Scripture teacheth that good father Abraham offred his sonne Isaac on the mount Moria where Salomon built the temple Which all were figures that Christ Iesus the new Adam should be buried in the same place where the old Adam was to restore to vs that life which old Adam had lost and should offer his pretious bodie on the tree for our redemption a sweeter sacrifice then Isaac or anie bloodie sacrifice that was offered in the temple of Salomon It is comfortable to consider and wonderfull to behold how the wisdome of God hath made the circumstances of our destruction by Adam saluation by Christ Iesus to agree Adam in Paradice a garden of pleasure offended God was cast out for his disobedience and we all his posteritie Christ Iesus was buried in a garden and hath by his death restored to vs life againe By the intising of a woman man fell from God and by a woman that blessed seede Christ Iesus was borne and reconciled vs to his father againe By a pleasant apple was man deceiued but by Christ hauing bitter gall giuen him to drinke man was saued In that garden had Adam all pleasant things freelie giuen him and in this garden without the Citie had Christ our Lord all cruel and spitefull torments that could be deuised that we should goe forth to suffer with him forsaking the daintie pleasures of this Citie In the temple no sinne could be forgiuen without shedding of the blood of some sacrifice and in this world is no pardon of our wickednes without the blood of Christ Iesus the innocent lambe of God And as by the fall of one man Adam we all were condemned so by the rising from death of one man Christ Iesus we are iustified By the corruption of our father Adam we all did perish and by the Innocencie of our brother the Lord Christ we al be sanctified Why should not the goodnes of the one profit vs as much as the illnes of the other did hurt vs or rather much more blesse vs being the immortall sonne of the liuing God and the other being but a mortall man made of the earth And as they that had anie sute to the King or sacrific e to be offred by the Priest first entred in at the vttermost gate where the common sort of Citizens dwelt then through the second where the Leuits learned men were and lastlie in at the innermost gate where the King and his palace the hie Priest and the temple were built so they that will goe to the great King and hie Priest of the heauenlie Ierusalem must first enter the vttermost gates where al sorts of Christians are borne into this world and then be brought to the second to be intructed by the ministers in the lawe of the Lord and receyued into the Church and there nourished by the Sacraments of God which being diligentlie done he may boldlie enter at the Innermost gate to the Kings Palace and temple to make his humble sute pray and offer his bodie a liuelie sacrifice to God the father by Christ Iesus his sonne King of Kings and Lord of the heauens who also is our high Priest and Archbishop that offred vp that sweete sacrifice of his owne blood for our silthie and stinking sinnes For as the king and the Priest dwelled both togither in the Innermost warde and on the high hils so our King and high Priest Christ Iesus hath taken vnto him-selfe the kingdome and priesthood and by his holie spirit made vs a king lie priest hood to God his father Kings that we might by him conquere the kingdome of Sathan and Priests to mortifie and kill the silthie lusts of our flesh and offer our soules a liuing and holie sacrifice to serue him For as no sacrifice could be offred any where but in this onelie Temple of Ierusalem so no prayer nor thankefull sacrifices can bee offered vnto him but in the name of Christ Iesus his sonne and our Lord. Lastlie as God of his iustice for the wickednes and superstition both of the Princes Priests and the people destroyed the kingdome law and priesthood of Moses neuer to be built orrestored againe though the Iewes sundrie times attempted it and with great sommes of money would haue gotten licence to haue yearelie come and lamented the destruction of it Yet both Emperour Elius Adrianus to withdraw them from it built a new Citie in another place called it after his owne name and graued a Swyne and his owne Image ouer the gates to bring them in hatred with it and commanded in paine of death they shold not come thither God also with Earthquakes ouerthrew their doings destroyed their tooles and swallowed vp the workemen So in his mercie he hath built a new spiritual Ierusalem giuen vs the comfortable tidings of the Gospell sent his Apostles to preach it through all the world set vp a new kingdome and ministerie not in a corner of the world as it was then but through all countries that all which beleeue may be saued and that not in feare and threatnings as the law was but in louing kindenes mercie grace peace and trueth in Christ Iesus Many of these things are well noted by Wolphius and other learned men and because there is diuers times occasion giuen in this Chapter to speake of these figures and spirituall comparisons I haue once for all set them downe that I neede not oft repeate them afterward and they that list may briefelie here see all set togither and applie them afterward as occasion serueth I will not in this Chapter as I haue done in others follow verse by verse nor sentence by sentence nor word by word to examine them particularlie because it standeth most of names wherein the vnlearned should not take so much profit as labour in reading of them though the learned may with pleasure picke out good lessons of them by Allegoricall interpretation of the places c but I will briefelie note such things here and there in some verses as shall giue occasion to help the simpler sorte to further the building of these walls for
conspiracy that was intended against them by Sanballat and his fellowes be worthie more praise or dispraise It was theire dutie to haue come home stood in stormes and help to build Ierusalem as well as these other their fellowes did but God which turneth our negligence and foolishnes to the setting forth of his immortal goodnesse and wisdome gaue them a good will and boldnes to further that building as they might and sturred them vp to come often times open vnto them in Ierusalem the great conspiracie that was intended against them that they might be readie to defend themselues when-soeuer they were assaulted It greeued them to vnderstand the mischiefe that was purposed both to haue their breethrens blood cruellyshed also that building to be ouerthrowen and though they durst not come and ioyne with them both in battaile and working yet they are to be commended that they so pitied their breethren and the worke that they gaue warning of that great conspiracie purposed against them Thus God vseth the seruice of all men and creatures to the benefit and comfort of those that feare him truely So among wicked people manie times doe good men dwel both to bring them from their wickednes by their good example and counsell and also to be a reliefe to other good men abroad in other places when occasion shall serue Thus was Lot in Sodom Ioseph in Pharaos house and Daniell in Babylon and if these Iewes had not dwelt abroad among the Samaritans and Arabians this conspiracie had not bene opened to the builders in Ierusalem but they should haue bene sodenly slaine afore they knew of their comming Thus is Gods prouidence care for his people when they vnderstand not their owne daunger to be praised and this naturall loue that these Iewes bareto their Countrie and Breethren in fore-warning them to defend them-selues is to be followed of all good men Demeratus of Lacedemon was vniustlie banished his countrie yet when he heard that the Athenians would make warre against his countrie he gaue his countrie-men warning of it that they might be in a readinesse to defend them-selues When the Israelites had made the Golden calfe and God in his anger would haue destroyed them Moses falleth to prayer though they oft rebelled against him and desireth the Lord to pardon them or els to put him out of his booke Saint Paul wisheth to be accursed from Christ so that he might winne his breethren the Iewes to the Lord Christ though they oft sought his death Thus good men wil forget displeasures done vnto them and be readie alwaies to help and comfort their Countrie and speciallie those that be of the houshold of faith This may be a comfort to all good men that as God opened this conspiracie to his people at this time by the Iewes that dwelt farre from them so his fatherlie care neuer faileth them that loue him but he will defend and deliuer them for he maketh his enemies if they be made priuie of anie such mischiefe so babling that they will open it eyther for vaine Glorie briberie malice or else their owne consciences doe accuse them that they cannot quiethe suffer such a mischiefe to be wrought And although they were thus oft and out of all corners warned of this conspiracie yet they could scarselie be brought manie of them to beleeue anie such thing to be attempted it was so horrible and incredible Good men iudge others to be like them selues simple and plaine dealers and cannot easilie be perswaded that anie man would goe about such a mischiefe But the gospel teacheth that we should be wise as serpents as simple as doues the serpent is wise to saue his owne head and hide him selfe vntill the daunger be past and the doue will not crastelic deuise anie harme to anie other so the man of God must be wise as the serpent and not be carelese of his saftie for God hath giuen him reason to defend him selfe and foresee mischiefes and prouide for them nor he must not be craftie to hurt others as the doue is not but he must rather thinke that the wicked men whom Sathan hath so possessed will leaue nothing vndone that may ouerthrow the good therefore they ought to be as wise circumspect diligent to defend them-selues their countrie from such mischiefes by all honest meanes as the other shall be busie to deuise or doc them anic harme or else they shallbe guiltie of their owne destruction and manie others which cannot be defended in conscience nor the Lord can alowe it in iustice being hurtfull to so manie 13. I set in the lowe places Nehemiah by leauing the Court where he liued in case is now come to a goodlie bargaine First he was master of the worke set euerie man in order that none loytered nor wrought otherwyes then he was appointed and that none troubled his fellowes dayly dabling in the mire morter and clay as long as he might and yet would not be wearie with great displeasure and grudging of those that should be his friends and helpers but now is become a warrier is driuen to put on armour keepe watch and ward night and daie and ouersee them him selfe to sett his people in aray and appoint them their standing places giuing them their weapons and teaching them what they should doe Such reward shall they haue that sorsake the world and will build Gods house and Citie God and the world cannot be friends and that maketh so few Courtiers to tread this trodde Moses being brought vp in Pharaos house and might haue bene called as sonne to Phà raos daughter refused the Court and chose to be in trouble with his breethren the Iewes and serue the Lord rather then to haue all the dainties in the Court liuing in Idolatrie and displeasure of God I know not many courtiers which might thaue liued in the court with such fauour authoritie would not to set by these two men God encrease the number make many earnest folowers of them Nehemiah now like a good Captaine setteth some of his souldiers in trenches that they could not be seene be-low where the walls were lowest that if any entred there they should be entrapped by and by some he setteth on the top of the walls with their bowes that they might both be seene far of so make the enemy afraied to come neere when they should see them in such readines also that they might shoot farre of at them and hurt them afore they could assault the walls And like a wise Captaine he setteth all of one kindred together that one should be true to another as kinsfolkes will rather then Strangers It hath bene a common practise with vs of late to take the souldiers of one countrie from their Captaine whome they know and loue and put them to a straunger whome they know not what goodnes hath come of it let wise men iudge in my opinion little or none except
few words Standstil saith Moses behold and marke the end when ye are not able the Lord him selfe will sight for you these cruell enemies whom ye see this day ye shall neuer see any more And so it came to passe for by Gods mighty hand the Israelites passed through the Sea safe and Pharao with his people were drowned The scripture teacheth that the fearfull vnfaithfull murtherers adulterers inchaunters Idolaters and liers shal haue their parts in the burning lake of fire and brimstone If ye will not sticke vnto this God and feare him as children ought to loue and reuerence their father yet feare him as seruants doe their masters and as ill men doe which are afraid of punishment and forbeare ill doing for feare rather then for loue The greeuous punishment which is threatned to fearefull men is the second and euerlasting death bothe ofbodie and soule which whosoeuer hath any true feare of God in him will tremble quake when he thinketh on it be not therefore afraid of them but plucke vp your stomaches and boldlie stand in the defence of that Citie which the Lord God hath giuen you to serue him in To fight for sonnes daughters wiues and houses I thinke it were an easie matter to perswade anie man for they be our flesh and bones and we be readie ynough to such matters and surelie not without a cause for both the law of god the law ofnature bindeth vs to defend them in their wel doings Moses in his law saieth that if thou traueyling by the way doe sinde thine enemies asse fallen in the mire vnder his load thou shalt not passe by but help him vp surelie the meaning of this law was not for the asse but as Saint Paul alledging the like law thou shalt not mussle the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne sayed Had God care for the Oxe Nay verely but for you it is writen that ye should feede your painful teachers which labour for you as the Oxe So I say this law was not made for the Asse his sake but euen for thy enemie who is ouerloden as the Asse was and speciallie those to whom thou art bound by nature for else thou art worsse then an infidel But in this matter men are sone resolued what to doe there is a harder matter in mens minds that is whether we should fight for Religion as these men did or no. We see great troubles in manie countries against their Princes in our days for religion and many doubt what they may do herein Let the case stand as these mens did it is sone answered These Samaritans Sanballat and his fellowes were no Princes but subiect to Artaxerxes as the Iewes were nor had anie authoritie ouer them they were Gods enemies and did the Iewes wrong that would not suffer them to goe forward with that building which the King had giuen them licence and commission to do Therefore they might iustlie defend them selues against such theeues Further here is to be noted also that they defend thē selues onelie doe not inuade the other offering anie violence to them but would quietlie enioy their owne if they might And this is a greate difference in the warrs whether a man stand to defense of him selfe his people in any cause or doe inuade others and offer them wrong Defending a mans selfe is alowed by all lawes in manie causes and yet in religion by flying and not by drawing the sword against his Prince but to rebell and draw the sword against thy lawfull Prince for religion I haue not yet learned nor cannot alow off it nor I cannot see how so manie martirs in all ages would haue submitted them selues to death willinglie if they might haue fought for it Peter drew his sword to cut of Malchus eare and would haue fought for his master but Christ Iesus bad him put vp his Sword for if the matter stoode by fighting he could aske his heauenlie father and he would giue many thousands of Angels to fight for him The Prophet biddeth the Israelites in their captiuitie in Babilon pray for the life of Nebucadnezar Balthasar his sonne seeke for the peace of the Citie in which they were prisoners and not trouble them S. Paul biddeth pray for all them that were in authoritie and then was Nero Emperour a beast in condition rather then a man yet he must be prayed for Dauid would neuer hurt King Saul though he might and had him in his daunger sundrie times might haue killed him if he would Therefore as Christ ouercame his enemies by suffring so they that be Christes shall get the victorie by patientnes bearing the crosse not by rebelling drawing the sword As Nehemiah therefore here encourageth the Nobles Rulers and people manfullie to stand in defence of their countrie Citie wiues children breethren and howses against their enemies so in the spirituall kingdome of Christ must the Preachers Pastors encourage all sorts from the highest to the lowest manfully to stand to that wholsome doctrine of saluation which they haue bene taught out of Gods holie booke and not be afraid nor chaunge with euerie blast of winde and turne with the world as all sorts in this land haue done to the offence of Gods maiestie and their great reproch and specially ofthose that were the heades and should haue bene staies to others Religion is not a thing at the pleasure of Princes to chaunge as they list though the outward circumstances in it may be chaunged by them but it is the vnchaungeable will and determinate pleasure of the almightie Lord of heauen and earth decreed by high Court of parlament in heauen afore the world was made and declared vnto man by his Prophets and Apostles in such times as his infinite wisdome thought meete and cannot be altered by anie man nor authoritie in anie age I am God and am not chaunged saith the Lord my thoughts and my waies are not like your thoughts and waies which are euer changeable and vncertaine but I am euer one and chaunge not Stick therfore fast vnto that Lord which shrinketh not a waie from his people but manfully deliuereth them by suffering we shall haue the victory as our Captaine Christ Iesus had for if we suffer with him Saint Paul saith we shall reigne with him In bearing his crosse and sufferance then standeth our conquest not in Rebelling in dying to him and not liuing to our selues Marke now the mightie hand of God fighting for his people and the cowardly harts ofthese boasting braggers how sone they come to nought they but hard tell that the Iewes vnderstoode their conspiracie how they thought to haue come sodenlie murthered them that they were readie in armoure to withstand and defend them-selues against them their harts faile them they runne away lay downe their weapons and the Lord defeated their whole purpose and deuises Thus lightheads they had that when they heard tell
midst of the great riuer of Rhene which yet standeth there to be seene in the middest of the riuer he thought him selfe sure if he could slie thither notwithstanding the Rats swam after him thither and there deuoured him and it is called the Rats tower at this daie Salomon saieth he that hideth vp his corne shalbe cursed among the people but blessing shalbe on them that sell it God graunt the richer sort pitifull hearts to open their barnes and pursse to the reliefe of the poore that they maie escape Gods plague and mans cursse 3. And there were some that sayd Thus farre goeth the cry of the poorest sort now followeth another company that crie as fast but they are not altogether so poore They were pinched with hunger but they had some lands vineyards and houses to lay to pledge that they might haue some corne to fill their bellies withall These men were hungerbitten also for though they had land yet they were not able to store it nor husband it as husbandry required and therefore had no profit by it And like ynough they were such as Aggeus the Prophet complained on saying that euerie man buildeth for him selfe faire houses and Gods house lay vnbuilt and therefore God plagued them They had sowen much and reaped litle their corne wasted in their Barnes and their grapes consumed awaie in the winepresse These daies were like the time of Micheas the Prophet who crieth out against the rulers for their oppressing of the poore so extreamlie saying they plucke of their skinnes frrom them and their slesh from their bones And they eate also the flesh of my people and flay of their skinne from them and they breake their bones and choppe them in pieces as for the pot and as slesh within the caldron 4. And there were some that said Yet commeth another sort but they were in some better case for they had some corne and no money and they crie out as fast as the rest The King of Persia although they had giuen the Iewes licence to goe home to build their Temple and Citie yet they laid a great taske on them which they should paie in token of their subiection and recompence for their liberties sake The Rulers and chiefe of the Iewes had ingrossed vp in their hands vnmercifullie all the corne and money that could be come by so that litle or nothing could be gotten to fill their bellies and to pay the kings tribute withall therefore these men must pledge their lands and vineyeards toget some money for this purpose O miserable wretches that had thus miserablie oppressed their poore breethren and countriemen who had taken as much paines as they or more for the defence of their countrie building of their Temple and Citie and now in their great neede could finde no comfort nor reliefe at their hands But these be no new things in the world for Amos the Prophet complaineth likewise of the opression that the richer sort vsed toward the poore in his time When will this moone passe away saie they that hath so much plentie and the time come that we may make the measure lesse and buy the poore for Siluer and the needic for shoes and sell the out cast of the wheat 5. And now as the flesh of our breethren is But now come they all howling and crying together and saie what better case are we in that be come home to our countrie then our breethren which liue in captiuitie vnder the Chaldies Assirians Babylonians Medes Persians or any other countrie where-soeuer they be scattered on the face of the earth They liue in penury hunger so do we They be oppressed with their Rulers so be we Their flesh is partched with toiling in the heat frosen vp with cold and so is ours Their bellies cleaue to the verie back for hunger and so doe ours There is no strength nor courage left in them no more is there in vs. They be wearie of their liues and so be we They haue not where with to fil their bellie and couer their back no more haue we They pine away for sorow and so doe we They haue nothing left but skinne and bones and those will scarse cleaue together for sorow and in the same case be we If they get a pennie with great labour one or other is readie to snatch it from them and so it is with vs. As their children liue in as great slaueric and miserie as their fathers so doe our children liue as miserablie as we doe There is no respect of age nor youth neither there nor here but all kindes of sorow are laide vppon vs without mercie If this sorow were laide on vs alone we could better beare it but when we see our children young infants that cannot help them-selues to be wrapt in the same miserie that we be and can help neyther them nor our selues it doubleth and tripleth our sorow and yet both is remediles endles and comfortles These be straunge things which were laid to their charge for their vngentle dealing butloe marke and consider farther and these dealings that folow are much worsse monsters in nature and things intollerable both afore God and man This word loe marke or behold Ecce euer betokneth throughout the scripture some notable thing eyther verle good or verie ill that is spoken of immediatlie afterward and such a one as commonlie falleth not out among men And the holie Ghost of purpose vseth to marke such notable things with this word Loe Ecce marke or behold to put men in remembrance and awake them to the consideration of the weightie matterthat followeth that they should not lightlie passe ouer it but deeplie marke consider it Marke the greatnes of this oppression and vnmercifull dealing of the richer sort toward vs their poore breethren and countriemen of the same religion and seruing the same God that they doe haue taken as much paines in building the Temple Citie and defending our countrie as they haue done or more and yet can finde no mercie at their hands but are made their slaues For behold in straunge countries where our breethren dwell straungers take their sonnes and daughters by force and make them bond-men and slaues but we are brought into such miserie that we our selues are driuen by necessitie through the oppression of our rulers against our will willingly to bring offer our sons daughters to them to be their bond-seruants slaues and vsed as beasts at their commaundement that we and they may liue though it be in great miserie rather then perish for hunger or penurie And that ye may see the thing to be true and not feigned some of our daughters are in bondage to them alreadie It is a great griefe to parents to see their owne children taken by straungers made slaues in their owne sight but it is a greater grief for fathers to be so cruellie delt with in their owne countrie at their friends hands