LIB.XXI. Nehemiah redrefling, &c. A that gr<at perfons have not been fccondcd in evill; why fhould not their power f:rve to make p:ttteros of thdr venues 0: Thus wdldid it fpeed with Nehemial; hi; mercifull cmiage, and zeolou• fuit have drawne the Rulers to a promift: of relliru~ion; We wiOrtpore them, 4»d JVrll rtqHirt 111 • thing ofthun,fo wiUwedoe ,u tho. foiejl. It is no fmall advanrag< that thefe Nobles mull forgo:, in their rdeafes: there cannot be a better ligne ofa found amendment, then that we can be comemto bee: lofers by our repentance; Many formal! penitents have yctlded to part with fo much of their finne, as may abate nothing ofrheir profir; as if thefe Rulers fhould have beene willing to rellore the perfons, but \virhall il10uld have llood lliffely to require their fummes: This whining and partiall fatisfaClion had beene thankldfe. True B remorfe inlargeth the heart, and openeth the hand to a boumifull redemption of ourerrors. Good purpofes doe too often coole in time, and vanifh inro a carddfe forgetfulneffe;Nthtmiah fear<d this itfue of thefe holy r<folutions;and therefore he profecutes them in their firll heat; not leaving thefe promifes, till he had fecured them, with an oath; The Priells are called for, that in thtir mouthcs the adjuration may be more folemne, and facted1 It is the bell point ofwifdome ro take the fitll opportunity of fixing good mottons, which othmvife are ofthemfdves, light and flighty. To make all yet more fure,theiroathes are crolfc-barred with his execration. Alfo 1Jhool: my lap am({aid, SI Godjhal:t o•t tvtry m•nf7om hi< houfe,•ndfrom hiJ lahour that ptrformuh not thM pr~mi{e,tvtnthll4 hehe fhaktn 9Nt,.md tmptitd:a,dAii the c~ngrtgation (ard,Amm. A C promifc, an oath,a curfe,arc: p:Iff~d upon this atl; now,no Ifradite dares falter in the execution: When we have a fin in chafe, iris good to follow it home, nor ilackning our purfuit till we hove folly prevailed; and when it is once falne under our hands· we cannot kill ic too much. ' Now N1htmi•h having thus happily delivered his people from a domellic-11 capti· vity,commends his fervice to the gracious remunerationofthe Almighty;Think "P"' "''my G•dfor g••d, amrding t~aU that I have dme fort hi! people; Therefore doth he refule the bread oftheGovernor,that he may receive the reward ofthe Governor of heaven: Had he taken atemporary recompence, both he, and it had been forgotten, now he hath made an happy change for eternity. Not that he pleads his merit, but fues for mercy;ndther doth he pray to be remembred for l1is work,but according to D his work.Our good deeds as they are well accepted ofGod,fo they fhlll not goe unrewarded;and what God wil give,why may not we crave~Doubtle!Te,as we may offer up our honell obediences unto God, fo we may expeCl and beg his promifcd te· tributions; not out ofa proud conceit of the worth of our earnings, who at the bell ore noNh<r then unprofitable fetvams, but out ofa faithful! dependance upon his paCl ofboumy, who cannot beleffe then his word : 0 God, ifwe doe ou~htthat is good, iris thine act, and nm ours: crowne rhine owne worke in us, and take: thou the glory of thine own< mercies. Wlliles Nebtmiah is bufie in the reforming abufes,at home; the enemie is plotting againll him, abroad; Sa•h•/141, and Tlbi•h, and Gtj/um the Arabian confpireagainll his life,and in hiru,againll thepeace ot Jerufalem' What open hollility could not do, E they hope to dfctl by pretence oftrearies : Four feverall mdllges call Nthtmiahto a friendly mceting.Dillrull isa fure guard. The wife governor bath learn"d to fufpeCl the: hollow f.tVoursofan enemy,and ro rc:tnrnc: thcm,with fafc: and juftc:xcures.! &Annot come d•r~mt, rvby fbould the workecufi whiles 1/eavtlt,•ndcome dDwneto y•• ? I doe nor heare him fay, You intend mifchiefe ro me; I will nor come forth to you; though this were the prop<r caufe of his forbearance, ,but he turnes them offwith an anfwer, that had as much ttuth, as refervedneffe. Fuud is the fitliell anfwered with fubtletie. Even innocency is allowed a lawfullcrafc; That man is in an ill cafe, that cooce:r!es no truth from an adverfary. What intreaties cannordo,fhall be attempt<d by threats; S•nb.Uats fervant comes riow the fifth rime:, with an open·d lerrc:r, importing dangerous lintimarions wherein is written, It ilreporttdAmong the heathen, •ndG•JhniU f'irhil, that the lt~Per thlnke
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