Ver. 1. Now it came to pass] Lo, here another let to the good work in hand. That in the fourth chapter was external only; that in the fifth internal only; this here is mixed, that is, partly cast in by the enemies without (those cruel crafties), and partly helped on by the perfidious prophets and ignobles within, conspiring with the enemy against the good of their own country. Thus fluctus fluctum trudit. Disorder creates disorder. And the rest of our enemies] The Church’s enemies are not a few, 1 Corinthians 16:9. She is like unto a silly poor maid, saith Luther, sitting in a wood or wilderness, compassed about with hungry wolves, lions, boars, bears, assaulting her every moment and minute. The ground of all is that old enmity, Genesis 3:15. That I had builded the wall] This wall made Nehemiah, as Winchester tower at Windsor made William Wickham, that is, raised and renowned him; and in a like sense as God is said to have made Moses and Aaron, 1 Samuel 12:6, that is, to have advanced them in the hearts of his people. And that there was no breach left therein] It had been but half-built, Nehemiah 4:6, and the breaches but began to be stopped, Nehemiah 6:6,15, yet now all is finished, amidst much opposition; so shall the work of grace be in our hearts. But whilst here a Christian hath his Ulterius More, still (which was Charles V’s motto), his Superius, Greatest, as the guest in the Gospel that was bid to sit higher, &c., something is yet wanting to his full and final salvation, which he is still to work out, Philippians 2:12, like as here, the doors were not yet upon their hinges.
Ver. 2. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me] As if solicitous of my safety, and careful of the common good. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him. When he speaketh fair believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart, Proverbs 26:24,25. Nehemiah well knew that all this pretended courtesy was but dross upon dirt, Nehemiah 6:13, a fair glove drawn upon a foul hand, a cunning collusion to undo him. He therefore keeps aloof: quia me vestigia terrent, &c. Come, let us meet together] Thus they called him to conference and consultation whiles the doors were not yet upon the gates; purposely to take him off the work; as the fox diverts the huntsman from following the hare; and as our deceitful hearts do too often draw us away from the prosecution of good purposes, by casting many other odd impertinent matters an our way. In the plain of Ono] Which was in the tribe of Benjamin, Nehemiah 11:30,31, near to Jerusalem; that he might the sooner come, and be the more secure; so the Papists appointed Trent for their conventicle, as near to the Reformed Churches; inviting their divines thereunto sub fide publica; under public trust, but that council was carried by the pope and his complices, with such infinite guile and craft, without any sincerity, upright dealing, and truth, as that the Protestants, Calvin, Buret, &c., kept off; as seeing that it was to no purpose to come among them. But they thought to do me mischief] To kill me, or, at least, to captivate me.
Ver. 3. And I sent messengers unto them] He went not, but sent. This was to be wise as a serpent, Matthew 10:16. God calleth us not to a weak simplicity, but alloweth us as much of the serpent as of the dove, and telleth us that a serpent’s eye in a dove’s head is a singular accomplishment. Beware of men, Nehemiah 6:18, brutish persons, skilful to destroy, Ezekiel 21:31. Bless yourselves from Machiavellians (those matchless villanies), and pray, with David, to be delivered from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue, Psalms 120:2. The Cardinal of Lorraine (the chief engineer of the French Massacre) sent to Christopher, Duke of Wirtsberg, a prudent and a valiant prince, that he and his brethren, the Guises, would embrace the Protestant religion, and desired to be enrolled in the number of the Protestant princes; but they knew him too well to trust him. I am doiny a great work, so that I cannot come down] I cannot intend it, as having my hands more full of employment than that I can give heed to your compliments. There is a curse to him that doth the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully. And lata negligentia dolus est, saith the Civilian, Remissness is a kind of perfidiousness. Why should the work cease?] As it would, or at least go but slowly on, in his absence; he was εργοδιωκτης, the driver on of tbe business; as was likewise Boaz, who, therefore, followed it so closely himself, Ruth 2:4; his eyes were upon the servants, reapers, gleaners; he lodged in the midst of his husbandry. Let the tempter ever find us busy, and he will depart discouraged, as Cupid is said to do from the muses, whom he could never take idle. Standing water soon stinks, empty stomachs draw the humour that is next it; so doth the idle heart evil motions. An industrious Nehemiah is not at leisure to parley with Sanballat; lest if he let any water go beside the mill, he should be a great loser by it. His employment is as a guard or good angel, to keep him both right and safe.