to remember them and to rebuke them Vers 9 14. In great services we have all reason to minde these three things to beg of God pardon for our failings acceptance of our services vindication of our innocency and rebuke of our adversaries Now because Nehemiah as a Governor had work still to do therefore we may allow this Prayer a Prospect forward in relation to actions which he was to do And they serve for special instruction unto us upon that accompt For besides that the Prayer as to these actions may take in the three former particulars of acceptance pardon and vindication There are three things more which may be comprised in it under that aspect It is a Prayer 1. For counsel and direction Remember me to teach me I have great and weighty businesses go through my hand and care I am subject to errors and mistakes one miscarriage of mine might open the mouthes of many to reproach me might sadden the hearts of many who love and honor me might be of dangerous consequence to all thy people Remember me therefore to teach me shew me the way wherein thou wouldst have me to go let not mine ignorance betray me to dishonor thee or to inconvenience thy people So David prayed Make thy way strait before my face Psal. 5. 8. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk Psal. 143. 8. So Solomon I am but a childe I know not how to go out or come in Give me therefore an understanding heart that I may discern between good and bad For who is able to judge this thy so great a people 1 King 3. 8 9. The greater the actions are which we undertake the greater need we have to implore wisdom for the direction of them Even wisdom to plough and sowe is ascribed unto God Isai. 28. 24 29. How much more necessary is it in profound and abstruse actions to implore his guidance 2. For Assistance for when we know what to do we have weak hearts and weak hands apt to be discouraged apt to flag and hang down except he be pleased to animate and strengthen them and as he hath promised that he will hold our hand that it may not miscarry Isai. 42. 6. We must all say as Nehemiah did Strengthen thou our hands Chap. 6. 9. As Jehoshaphat did We have no might we know not what to do 2 Chron. 20. 12. And therefore our eyes are upon God He it is that girdeth with strength Psal. 18. 39. It is not we that do any thing but the grace of God which is with us 1 Cor. 15. 10. Phil. 4. 12 13. Isai. 26. 12. 3. For Success for when we are taught and when we are strengthned yet still we must wait upon God for his blessing We by his help may do our works but he reserveth it to himself as his peculiar work to impart the blessing We may draw the Patent but the Prince onely can command the Seal and make it thereby valid and effectual Psal. 127. 1 2. Paul and Apollo can onely plant and water but the increase is from God alone 1 Cor. 3. 6. The race is not to the swift nor the battel to the strong c. But the power and providence of God over-ruleth all Eccles. 9. 11. And when he pleaseth an handful of men shall discomfit a mighty host as Gideon did the Midianites with Three hundred men And fewer then Ten thousand Grecians did vanquish an army of Three hundred thousand Persians in the famous battel at Marathon as Pausanias and Valerius Maximus give the numbers Now lastly with relation unto all performances which he had or should dispatch so this Prayer is a Petition for that gracious Reward which the Lord is mercifully pleased to encourage his services by in those great and difficult works whereunto he calleth them whereby not his servants onely but his own Son have been animated to endure sufferings and to despise shame Heb. 11. 26. 12. 2. For the expected promises do awaken our patience in the Lords work Heb. 10. 36. 2 Cor. 7. 1. The Apostle pressed forward to the price Phil. 3. 14. Fought his fight finished his course kept the faith in pursuance of that Crown of Righteousness which was set before him 2 Tim. 4. 8. For in keeping the Commandments there is a great Reward Psal. 19. 11. And this indeed is matter of comfort and encouragement unto us that though the works which we are to do are difficult and we have withdrawing hearts and weak hands and fainting spirits and potent enemies and strong temptations and having conflicted with all these may haply lose our thanks with men and possibly be rewarded with hatred and ill-will yet we work for a Master who remembers all who keeps an accompt of but a cup of cold water which is given to him in any of his poor servants If a Raven feed his Prophet if Dogs lick the sres of Lazarus if Rotten rags draw Jeremy from a Dungeon if a broken Potsherd stand Job in any stead in his afflictions if a Basket be a means to deliver Paul or Stalks of Flax to hide the Spies of Israel if the cover of a Well do protect Davids Intelligencers if spread Garments and broken Boughs contribute any thing towards the honor of Christ there shall be a Record kept and an honorable Mention made of the services even of these inanimate Creatures O what a good Lord do we serve who keeps a Book for our sighs a Bottle for our tears a Register for but two Mites cast into his Treasurie Who keeps a Record of gleaning of Barley dipping in Vinegar of a Cake of Meal of a Table a Stool and a Candlestick and esteemeth himself a debtor for such poor things as men scarce value for ordinary courtesies Who would not put forth all his strength in the service of such a Lord who takes notice of the least that that can be done who rendreth Robes for Rags Crowns for Crums turns our Water into Wine gives a weight of glory for light afflictions and eternal wages for a little momentary service Now in that this good man doth as often as he makes this Prayer make mention of God as his God Remember me O my God We may from thence certainly infer that by this consideration he had been greatly animated in his undertakings by the which he was so much comforted in the review of them and encouraged to pray for a merciful reward unto them And this leadeth us unto Three Observations which I shall but name I. That a sound faith and particular interest in God as our God is a special principle to quicken us in great and honorable undertakings It set Nehemiah at first to improve his relation unto the King of Persia for the good of his people and the City Jerusalem Nehem. 1. 11. 2. 4 8. And by the same Argument he encouraged the people to valor and resolution Nehe. 4.
for the happy management of them For in the multitude of Counsellors is safety Prov. 11. 14. 5. His pious courage animating his Brethren bearing up himself against envious aspersions of the enemy and drawing in his Brethren into an unanimous society in great and honorable works and all upon grounds of Faith giving assurance of divine help Chap. 2. 17. 18 20. 3. per totum 4. 1 5 14. Faith is a foundation of courage no grace so valiant as that Heb. 11. 33 34. 1 Joh. 5. 4. and Courage a foundation of constancy 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. And therefore Faith and fortitude are necessary graces for those who will go with resolution through great and difficult undertakings And therein a special wisdom to work all in a sweet and amicable concurrence to draw one way and to joyn with special accord hearts and hands in the same work for differences and divisions will unjoynt the frame of great actions and as a breach in a Wall will minister unto adversaries an occasion of advantage 6. His wise discovery of adverse counsels and preparations Chap. 4. 8 9 15. There never was any great enterprise without special opposition Zorobabel met with mountainous obstructions in the great work which he went about Zach. 4. 7. onely these Obstructions are more secret and invisible then Mountains and therefore men that engage in great works must ever have their eyes running to and fro to discover dangers that they may prevent them Prov. 22. 3. 7. His special care upon all emergent occasions to call the people together for new and further counsels Chap. 4. 19 20. Great businesses being full of variety of incidental and circumstantial contingencies will frequently call for further resolutions and renewed consultations will like great Vessels many times spring a leak and require immediate application of remedies And therefore it is a part of necessary wisdom as in great Cities so in great actions to have Physitians always within call who may timely advise upon all needful expedients for safety Judg. 19. 30. 8. His indefatigable labor night and day being not onely a commander but an example of unwearied patience to all the people Verse 22 23. And all great actions will require this part of self-denial A man either of sensual or sluggish principles is very unfit for the management of any arduous and weighty affairs It was a great business but one would think a sad one for a man to sacrifice his beloved son and yet Abraham rose up early to go about it Gen. 22. 3. 9. His compassionate zeal mixed with wisdom impartiality and self-denial for the poor which were oppressed rebuking the oppressors and forbearing his own just allowances and preventing the injuries of servants and officers Chap. 5. 14 15. In great employments which pass through many mens hands it is neither impossible nor improbable for innocency many times to suffer and much wrong to be done and that reductivè even by good men themselves if their ears be too much open to misrepresentations as we see it was in the case of Ziba and Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 16. 1 4. Unless much care wisdom and courage be used to require all Officers to do the things belonging unto them with Justice and expedition And here give me leave to commend unto you the care of your poor Brethren a duty which Apostles themselves have put one another in minde of Gal. 2. 10. You cannot be without many objects of that kinde even amongst those who serve you in these Expeditions sick Mariners desolate Widows poor Children It would be a work of a sweet savor to God to have a steady stock going for the advantage of these as well as of the Merchants Their Prayers may be wind in your Sails and bring down a blessing on all your undertakings 10. His bounty to the work He bought no Land but spent himself upon the service and upon hospitality to the people Chap. 5. 16 17 18. Covetousness is not onely a bar and obstruction to all honorable undertakings but doth miserably corrupt and spoil them by a self-seeking management when men drive on and interweave domestical interests under the specious pretence of publick good And therefore all great works do require great and large hearts for the promoting of them It was a great work the building of the Sanctuary and the Lord gave greatness of heart to the people to contribute unto it Exod. 36. 5. It was a great work the building of the Temple and God gave an immense largeness of heart to David and his Princes in offering thereunto For the sums offered were so great as surpassed the treasures of any other Princes which we read of Sardanapalus onely excepted as the learned Breerwood and Sir Walter Raleigh have observed 1 Chro. 22. 14. 29. 14. See Isa. 60. 6 7. 11. His undiscouraged constancy notwithstanding all the threats slanders letters prophecies misreports and wicked artifices purposely used by the subtle enemies to weaken and dishearten his resolutions Chap. 6. None are fit for great actions who are not men of constant and undanted spirits who cannot go through evil report as well as good whom the integrity of their own Consciences cannot bear up above the reproaches of enemies 1 Cor. 4. 3. 2 Cor. 6. 8 9 10. 12. His wise and pious care to communicate part of the charge unto faithful coadjutors whom he advanced not barely for their relation unto him but for their fidelity to the service Chap. 7. 2 3. Since it is impossible for great actions to be managed without much concurrence singular care is to be used that good and faithful men by whose care and prudence and prayers they may be promoted be employed in the transaction of them that even near relations do not prevail with us to entrust great works in the hands of weak or wicked men Consanguinity hath a strong byass even with good men Barnabas did earnestly contend to take Mark along in his and Pauls expedition to visit the Churches which Paul opposed Acts 15. 37 38. The Apostle doth implicitely give us the reason of it in another place Col. 4. 10. where he telleth us that Mark was sisters son to Barnabas 13. His singular zeal for the purity of the people of God that they might be an Holy Seed and for the Offices of Gods house that they might not be polluted Chap. 7. His care of the Worship of God Preaching Praying Fasting renewing Covenant restoring intermitted Duties Chap. 8. 9 10. Of the Chambers of Gods house that they might not be defiled Chap. 13. 7 9. Of the Portions of the Priests and Levites that they might not be detained Vers 10 14. Of the Sabbath that it might be duly sanctified Vers 15 22. Of the courses and services of the Priests and Levites that they might be appointed Vers 30 31. Of the Holy Seed that that might not be by Heathenish marriages corrupted Vers 23 30. Of the Name of God that that might
be duly praised and glorified Chap. 12. By all which we learn that the greater mens care is of the service and glory of God the fitter instruments they are to do great works and the more likely to prosper in the doing of them because they that honor God he will honor 1 Sam. 2. 30. So long as Uzziah sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chro. 26. 5. Hezekiah trusted the Lord and clave to him and the Lord was with him and blessed him whithersoever he went 2 King 18. 5 6 7. 2 Chron. 31. 21. But when Jehoshaphat joyned with Ahaziah who did very wickedly the Lord brake his ships and disappointed his expedition 2 Chro. 20. 35 37. Lastly His special wisdom and care to heal the sinful breaches and divisions which were amongst the people causing them to enter into a solemn promise to make reparations of all injuries done unto their poor Brethren and to prevent the reproach of the Heathen Chap. 5. 11 12 13. In great companies and great businesses it is hardly possible to carry things on in so smooth and regular a way but that some differences of judgment may arise and cause difficulties breaches and obstructions in the whole work and as our Saviour saith of Kingdoms Cities Houses so may we of companies and undertakings that divisions will endanger their standing Matth. 12. 25. It is one of Gods sore judgments when he intendeth to shatter and disappoint enterprises to send a spirit of division amongst those who are concerned in it as he did between the men of Shechem and Abimelech Judg. 9. 23. and between the Host of the Midianites Judg. 7. 22. and of the Ammonites Moabites and Edomites 2 Chron. 20. 22 23. And so he threatneth to do with the Egyptians Isai. 19. 2. and with the Armies of Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. 21. The like whereunto we read of in Pausanias and in Dionysius Halicarnasseus In which case wise and prudent men as Nehemiah here will use their uttermost endeavors to heal breaches to close up divisions to prevent mistakes to finde out expedients wherein all may readily agree for the preventing of those evils which differences of judgment if not timely cured may be likely to produce In which case there is nothing more conducent then mutual mildeness meekness and condescension So Abraham healed the breach which was going to be made between a his family and the family of Lot his Kinsman Gen. 13. 17 8. Therefore Rulers are called Healers Isai. 3. 7. And so Christ is described as a binder up and a strengthner Ezek. 34. 16. And Moses the first Ruler which God chose for his people was the meekest man alive Numb. 12. 3. Certainly meekness is a very great ornament and a very great instrument of power We may think that we shew our power by our stiffness and inflexibleness but it is a great evidence of power to be of an yeelding and a meek disposition It shews first a great power which a man hath over his own spirit which is a work of more power sometimes then the taking of a City Prov. 16. 32. Secondly It shews great humility and self-denial when as the Apostle speaks Nothing is done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde each esteemeth other better then themselves Phil. 2. 3. And do mutually submit unto one another in the fear of God Ephes. 5. 21. 1 Pet. 5. 5. And in honor prefer one another Rom. 12. 10. The Apostle made himself a servant to all and studied to please all for their good 1 Cor. 9. 19 22. Faciet sapiens said Seneca quae non probavit ut ad majora transitum inveniat A wise man will sometimes deny his own judgment in order to a greater good And it is an excellent direction of Hilary Ex alienis utilitatibus placere nec offendere ex propriis To be ready to make it appear unto other men that I am more desirous to please them upon the accompt of their profit then to offend them upon the accompt of mine own Istae cogitationes deprimentes superbiam tenentes charitatem faciunt onera fraterna invicem libentissimè sustineri saith St. Austin Thirdly It imitates the example of Christ who did not look on his own things but on the things of others Phil. 2. 4 5. And of the Lord whom Moses besought by an argument drawn from his power to be patient and long-suffering unto his people Numb. 14. 17 18. We have seen in Nehemiah the things which he remembred to do and which having done them he beseecheth God to remember And though the words seem to have properly a Retrospect onely to what had been done yet because we finde Nehemiah praying when he began these excellent works Chap. 1. 6 11. we shall therefore extend this prayer both ways both as an humble representation of his own sincerity before God in what he had done and likewise as an humble imploring of being remembred by God in what he should further do For the former of these considerations as the words have a Retrospect to what he had already done we shall consider them under a double notion first as the Comfort of this good man secondly as his Prayer As his Comfort he reviewed and looked back upon those good works which God had enabled him to do with much complacency and delight And this the Lord alloweth his servants to do For though in some respect the Apostle telleth us That he forgat the things behinde Phil. 3. 13. As not esteeming his work finished or his pace to be slackned upon his past acquirements yet in regard of comfort the same Apostle doth once and again make mention of his former conscionable conversation as matter of present rejoycing unto him Acts 24. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Thes. 2. 10. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. So did Job I have not concealed the words of the holy One Job 6. 10. The conscience of his true faith worship and constant obedience to the words of the holy One made him assured of comfort in his death and so elswhere Chap. 23. 10 11 12. Chap. 31. So Hezekiah Isai. 38. 3. Yea God is pleased to mention the good works of his servants for their comfort Job 1. 8. Joh. 1. 47. Acts 10. 4. Revel. 2. 2. And he hath appointed Officers on purpose to shew a man his uprightness and thereupon to comfort him Job 33. 23 26. And hath given every man a conscience in his bosom to report the consolations of the holy Spirit unto wel-doing and to be a continual feast within him Prov. 15. 15. As {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an habit of practical principles so it bindes us as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a knowledge of duty done so it comforts us 1 Joh. 3. 20. Qui facit praeceptum comparat paracletum The Reasons hereof are 1. A godly life hath pardon of failings and this is matter
20. The Church professeth That in the name of their God they would set up their Banners Psal. 20. 5. David went unarmed in the confidence of that name against Goliah because God was the God of the hosts of Israel 1 Sam. 17. 45. In all their marches and motions in the Wilderness this was their comfort That they had a God which went before them as their Captain who was able to scatter all their enemies Num. 10. 35 36. Psal. 68. 7 8. In this confidence Asa and Jehoshaphat applied themselves to God as their God and went on with courage and comfort against huge armies of enemies 2 Chron. 14. 11. 20. 6 7 11 12. By this faith Gideon Barak Sampson Jephthah David subdued Kingdoms obtained Promises stopped the mouths of Lions quenched the violence of the fire escaped the edge of the Sword out of weakness were made strong waxed valiant in fight c. Heb. 11. 32 34. 1. Faith is an active and working grace Remembring your work of faith saith the Apostle 1 Thes. 1. 3. It will not let men be idle or unfruitful 2 Pet. 1. 8. It knows what a back and strength it hath in the truth and power of God through whom it can do all things Phil. 4. 13. And thereupon what it findeth to do it doth with its might 2. It is an Heroical grace as the Philosopher saith of Wisdom That it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the knowledge of the most honorable things so we may say of Faith That it undertaketh the most honorable things eyeth great objects pursueth great ends looketh upon all things as possible Mark 9. 23. and therefore is not dismayed at any What an Heroical Faith was that of Joshuah whereby he prevailed with God in Prayer to stop the course of the Sun and Moon while Israel was avenged on their enemies Josh. 10. 12. And though Ordinary Faith be not a Faith of miracles yet it hath a nobleness and a greatness in it whereby it can in the assurance of its interest in God set upon great actions which are conformable unto his Will 3. It is a valiant and victorious Grace is not afraid of Men or Devils when it hath made sure of God It quencheth the fiery darts of Satan it overcomes the world One David having God for his God was not afraid of Ten thousand of Armies of men Psal. 3. 6. 27. 3. By his God he can run through a Troop and leap over a Wall and break a Bow of Steel Psal. 18. 29. Nothing is invincible to Faith it can level Mountains Zach. 4. 7. It can more then conquer greatest difficulties Rom. 8. 35 37. As one man by an Engine may move Bodies which an hundred without it could not stir so by the Engine of Faith things are many times effected which to sense and reason do seem impossible 4. It is a Patient Grace it is not discouraged with every obstacle nor dismayed with every terriculament nor wearied with every encounter but like Box or Holly and such other Trees retains its verdure in the Winter and holds out amidst all difficulties unto the End knows how near the promised mercies are and doth chearfully press forward towards them says with those in the Prophet Isai. 25. 9. This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us Faith doth not suffer a man to draw back but patiently to continue in well-doing that he may after a little while receive the promises Heb. 10. 36 39. Rom. 2. 7. 5. It is a Praying Grace can in every exigent and distress call down invisible help from God And none go with more vigor about any enterprise then they who being backed with potent friends and having free-access unto great Treasures are able in any extremity to obtain the concurrent counsels and succors of others to further their designs The Apostle bids us by Faith to ask wisdom of God that thereby patience may go thorow and have her perfect work Jam. 1. 4 5 6. God hath honored Faith and Repentance in the Gospel above other graces because they have a peculiar vertue to carry us out of our selves in Prayer unto God And no graces do more promote great actions then self-denying graces when men have ends and aids above themselves Carnal ends domestical interests and private affections do usually obstruct noble undertakings because such men as soon as storms arise and difficulties shake them forsake the proper and internal merits of the business and hold or alter their resolutions according as their own personal hopes or fears do dictate unto them And therefore the best way to make strong and steady progress in any serious employment is to have God for our God that in every difficulty we may be able to have recourse unto him for counsel wisdom succor support and may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might II. As Faith is a special principle of action in great undertakings so it is a special ground of comfort in the reviewing of them when we can say In this action though full of many difficulties yet Faith in God as my God hath upheld me and carried me through it to the end I have undertaken it not in mine own strength nor in the confidence of mine own wisdom but in an holy fear and comfortable dependance upon God I have aimed at his glory and at publick interest I have not immixed nor interwoven in it any carnal counsels or sinful projects of mine own I have labored to keep a good conscience in doing of mine own duty and have cast my self upon his holy providence for the event In this case the Lord doth ordinarily return such an answer of peace to works that are done in the fear of his name by the rule of his Word in the comfort of his promises and with submission to his providence as that one way or other the heart shall be able to take comfort in it For Faith is a successful grace and hath a promise of prospering Believe in the Lord your God so shall you be established beleeve his Prophets so shall you prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. By Faith Israel passed through the Red Sea and saw the victory of their Faith in the ruine of their proud enemies Exod. 14. 30 31. If the Lord bless the undertaking it self with a desired success Faith hath this comfort That it is a blessing received from the hand of a Father an evidence of his love an accession unto the gift of his Son with whom he freely giveth all other things It is the portion which God hath graciously given unto his servant and though the thing given be good it self yet the favor and blessing of God which comes along with it is much more excellent as the Money in the Mouth of the Fish or the Pearl in the Body of the Oyster is more precious then that which was the vehiculum of it And on the other hand if the Lord