Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. Now it came to paſſe.]
LO here another let to the good work in hand. That in the fourth chapter was externall onelyonly: that in the fifth internal onelyonly: This here is mixt; that is, partly caſt in by the Enemies without (thoſe cruel-crafties,) and partly helped on by the perfidious Prophets and ignoble Nobles within, conſpiring with the Enemy againſt the good of their own Countrey. Thus Fluctus fluctum trudit.
And the reſt of our Enemies] The Churches Enemies are not a few, 1 Cor. 16.9. She is like unto a ſilly poor maid (ſaith Luther) ſitting in a Wood or Wilderneſſe, compaſſed about with hungry Wolves, Lyons, Boares, Beares aſſaulting her every moment, and minute. The ground of all is that old Enmity, Gen. 3.15.
That I had builded the Wall] This Wall made Nehemiah, as Wincheſter-tower at Windſor made William Wickam, Godw. Catal.that is, raiſed and renowned him: and in a like ſenſe as God is ſaid to have made Moſes and Aaron, 1 Sam. 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, chap. 4.6. and the breaches but began to be ſtopt, ver. 7. yet now all is finiſhed, amidſt much oppoſition: ſo ſhall the work of grace be in our hearts. But whileſt here, a Chriſtian hath his Ʋlteriùs ſtill (which was Charles the fifth his Motto,) his Superiùs as the gueſt in the Goſpel that was bid to ſit higher, &c. ſomething is yet wanting to his ful and final ſalvation, which he is ſtill to work out, Philip. 2. ver. 12. like as here, the doores were not yet upon their hinges.
Verſe 2. Then Sanballat and Geſhem ſent unto me] As if ſollicitous 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, beleeve him not: for there are ſeven abominations in his heart, Prov. 26.24, 25. Nehemiah well knew that all this pretended curteſy was but droſſe upon dirt, ver. 23. 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 doores were not yet upon the gates; purpoſely to take him off the work: as the Fox diverts the Huntſ-man 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 odde impertinent matters in our way.
In the plain of Ono] Which was in the tribe of Benjamin, chap. 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 publicâ: but that Councel was carried by the Pope and his complices, with ſuch infinite guil and craft, without any ſincerity, upright dealing and truth, as that the Proteſtants, Calvin, Bucer, &c. kept off: as ſeeing that it was to no purpoſe to come amongſt them.
But they thought to do me miſchief] To kill me, or at leaſt to captivate me.
Verſe 3. And I ſent Meſſengers unto them] He went not, but ſent. This was to be wiſe as a Serpent, Matth. 10.17. 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 Serpents eye in a Doves head, is a ſingular accompliſhment. Beware of men, ver. 18. bruitiſh perſons skilful to deſtroy, Ezek. 21.31. Bleſſe your ſelves from Machiavellians (thoſe matchleſſe villanies) and pray with David to be delivered from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue, Pſal. 120.2. The Cardinal of Loraine (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 doing a great work, ſo that I cannot come down] I cannot intend it, as having my hands more full of employment, then that I can give heed to your complements. There is a curſe to him that doth the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully. And Lata negligentia dolus eſt, ſaith the Civilian; Remiſneſſe is a kind of perfidiouſneſſe.
Why ſhould the work ceaſe?] As it would, or at leaſt go but ſlowly on in his abſence: he was foreign the driver on of the buſineſſe: as was likewiſe Boaz, Ruth. 2.3.who therefore followed it ſo cloſe himſelf: his eyes were upon the Servants, reapers, gleaners: he lodgeth in the middeſt of his husbandry. Let the Tempter ever find us buſie, and he will depart diſcouraged, as Cupid is ſaid to do from the Muſes, whom he could never take idle. Standing water ſoon ſtinketh, empty ſtomacks draw the humour that is next it: ſo doth the idle heart, evil motions. An induſtrious Nehemiah is not at leaſure to parle 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.
Verſe 4. Yet they ſent unto me four times] As thinking to prevail, by their importunity. This, wicked men have learned of their Maſter Beelzebub, the lord of Flies (as the Name ſignifieth) or Maſter-flie that will not off the bait till beaten, and hardly then.A foreign. Sin hath oaded an impudency in ſome mens faces: and it appears they are paſt all grace, becauſe ſhameleſſe; Et pudet non eſſe impudentes, ſaith Auſtin.
And I anſwered them after the ſame manner] Nehemiah ſtood immoveable as a rock: He was homo quadratus, not to be altered, but firm to his principles, reſolute in his holy purpoſes. We may ſtile him (as Theodoret doth Athanaſius) the Bulwark of Truth,foreign. the Churches-champion. Nec temerè, nec timidè may ſeem to have been his motto, neither temerarious, nor timorous.
Verſe 5. Then ſent Sanballat — the fifth time] So reſtleſſe are wicked perſons: their ſouls are violently toſſed about, as in a ſling, 1 Sam. 25.29. Etſi non aliquà docuiſſent, &c. Satan, their task-maſter, urgeth them; and when thou ſeeſt them moſt importunate, and outragious, Scito quia ab accenſore ſuo daemone perurgentur, ſaith Bernard, Know thou that the Devil pricks them, and kicks them on to it.
With an open Letter in his hand] Not ſealed as the manner is, for ſecrecy ſake. The Jews uſe to write upon the back of their Letters, Nun, Cheth, Shin: that is, Niddui Cherem and Shammatha, all ſorts of excommunication, to him that ſhall open them. But this Letter was purpoſely ſent open, that whoſo would might read it ere it came to Nehemiah's hand, and be warned of having hand in the pretended treaſon.
Verſe 6. It is reported among the Heathen] And muſt therefore needs be true, like as the common ſort of Turks think that whatſoever is written in their tongue, muſt of neceſſity be beleeved for truth. But who knowes not, that Rumour is a loud lyar;Grand Sign. Serag. 171. and that every publike perſon needeth carry a ſpare hankerchief to wipe off dirt caſt upon him by diſaffected perſons, that ſeek to fly-blow their reputation, and to deprave their beſt actions.
And Jaſhmu ſaith ſo] Geſhmu aliàs Geſhem the Arabian, ver. 1.2. a worthy wight, a credible witneſſe. Nehemiah might well have replyed as Seneca did in like caſe. Malae de me loquuntur, ſed mali. Gaſhmu's tongue was no ſlander: for he was known to be mendaciorum artifex, one that had taught his tongue the art of lying, Jer. 9.3, 5. and had taken faſt hold of deceit, Jer. 8.5. Such of late time were thoſe loud and lewd liars, Genebrard, Scioppius, Baldwin, and Bolſecus, who being requeſted by the Popiſh ſide to write the lives of Calvin and Beza, is in all their writings alledged as Canonical, though they know him to be (according to the old Proverb) a Friar, a Lyar.
That thou and the Jews think to rebel] A likely matter: but that matters not. Any Authour ſerves Sanballats turn, who for a need could have ſuckt ſuch an accuſation as this, out of his own fingers, See Ezra 4.13.
For which cauſe thou buildeſt the Wall] This was calumniari audacter, as Machiavel taught, aliquid ſaltem adhaerebit. But if dirt will ſtick to a mudwal,Speed. 804, yet to marble it will not. Nehemiah hath the Euge of a clear conſcience, and no Wiſe-man will beleeve this black-mouthed Blatero. N. D. Authour of the three converſions, hath made Sr. John Oldcaſtle the Martyr, a Ruffian, a Robber, and a Rebel. His authority is taken from the Stage-players, of like conſcience for lyes, as all men know.
That thou maiſt be their King] King of the Jewes, As they called our Saviour, John 19.12. And as ſome think the ground of this report (if any there were) concerning Nehemah's practiſing to be King, were the propheſies of Haggai and Zachary concerning the near approach of Chriſts Kingdome.
Nihil eſt, quin malè narrando, poſſit depravarier.Terent.
According to theſe words] According to this report: or ſomewhat to the ſame ſenſe.
Verſe 7. And thou haſt alſo appointed Prophets, &c.] That the thing might ſeem to be of God: as the Beaſt hath his Falſe-prophet, that wrought miracles before him, Rev. 19.20. As Mahomet had his prophets, and John of Leyden had his to cry him up King of Munſter, the new Jeruſalem (as they called it) yea of all Nations, to rule them with a rod of iron.
And now ſhall it be reported to the King] Who muſt needs be highly diſpleaſed, and will as little endure it,Rominos geminos unum non caperet Regnū, quos unum uteri ceperat hoſpitiū, Cyprian. as the Heaven two Suns. Sol quaſi ſolus: ſic Monarcha. Marriage and Monarchie will not away with corrivals.
Come now therefore, and let us take counſel] In commune conſulere, leſt we all ſuffer for your fault. But neither was good Nehemiah in any fault: neither was their drift any other but this, to draw him out of the City, that they might miſchieve him: like as Dr. Briſtow adviſeth his Catholikes to get the Proteſtants out of their ſtrong-hold of the Scriptures into the open Field of Fathers and Councels: and then they might do what they would with us.
Verſe 8. There are no ſuch things done as thou ſayeſt] Nehemiah is not over-carefull to clear himſelf. This was ſo tranſparent a lye, that a man might ſee thorough it, and was therefore beſt anſwered with a neglective denyal. It falles out often, that playn-dealing puts craft out of countenance. Animus recti conſcius objecta probra ut viſus nocturnos & vanas ſomniorum imagines digno ſupplicio punit, feſtivo ſcilicet contemptu, & oblivione: vel, ſi tanti eſt, miſericordiâ elevat.Joh. Woner.
Verſe 9. For they all made us afraid] This they aymed at: but could not attain unto; for faith quelleth and killeth diſtruſtful fear, Pſal. 46.1, 2. Audacia eſt pro muro, ſaith Salluſt. Let the wicked flie when none purſueth, but the righteous will be bold as a Lion.Prov. 28 1.
Saying, their hand ſhall be weakened from the work] So meaſuring them by themſelves, as if they would have been ſoon ſcared and diſcouraged. But they knew not the Aes triplex, the power of the Spirit, that Spirit of power (oppoſed to the ſpirit of fear,) of love, and of a ſound mind, 2 Tim. 1.7. They knew not the privy armour of proof, that theſe good Jews had about their hearts.
Now therefore, O God, ſtrengthen mine hands] He acknowledgeth himſelfe to be in the condition of a poor Garriſon-ſouldier; that hath no help or ſupplies but from the Captain of his ſalvation: which therefore he thus humbly calleth in, and craveth. Of ejaculations, See Chap. 2. ver. 4. This here is diſpatcht in four words.
Verſe 10. Afterwards I came unto the houſe of Shemaiah] Perhaps the ſame that is mentioned, Ezra 8.16. but now fallen, as a Star from Heaven. Blazing Stars were never but Meteors. Demas not only forſook Paul, but became a Prieſt in an idols Temple at Theſſalonica, 1 Chron. 24.18.if Dorotheus may be beleeved. A Prieſt Shemajah was, would ſeem to be a Prophet: but he proved not right. All is not gold that gliſters. It was Tobiah's gold that made him a Prophet, as Philips gold made the oracle of Apollo give what anſwer he pleaſed. A houſe he had in the Temple: & there he had recluſed and ſhut up himſelf, that he might ſeem ſome ſingular Devoto, expecting a revelation from Heavē: or as one who ſequeſtred himſelf from company of others, with a ſtand further off; come not near, for I am holier then thou. Or, laſtly, to perſwade people that there was a neceſſity of ſecuring themſelves from the night-inrodes of the Enemy. Whatever it was that he was thus (Anchoret-like) pent up, or locked up, or deteyned (as Junius rendreth it, ſee the like ſaid of Doeg, that bloody Edomite, 1 Sam. 21.7.) Nehemiah went to his houſe to know what was the matter: ſuppoſing him to be a friend, but finding him ſuborned by the Enemy.
Let us meet together in the Houſe of God] Famous for ſanctity and ſafety: being within Gods precincts, we ſhall ſurely be under his protection.
And let us ſhut the doors of the Temple] Immure our ſelves, and keep out the Enemy. But, this had been the ready way to invite them, ſeeing his cow a diſe: for maximum his periculum qui maximè timent (ſaith Salluſt.) nothing betrayes a man ſooner then his cauſeleſſe fear. God helpeth the valiant. Beſides, Shemaiah and his falſe complices, having got Nehemiah to them from his friends and followers, might have done what they pleaſed with him; as the Romanes did by Caeſar, in the Senat-houſe.
For they will come to ſtay thee] And Nehemiah muſt be made beleeve, that Shemaiah, as a ſpecial friend, wiſhed no long life, and was zealous for it: whence he ſo doubleth his prediction of the danger. O deep diſſimulation!
Verſe 11. And I ſaid, ſhould ſuch a man as I flie?] To the diſhonour of God, and the diſcouraging of the people? to the ſcandal of the weak, and the ſcorn of the wicked? Et Turnum fugientem haec terra videbit? There is a foreign, a comelineſſe, a ſeemlineſſe, a ſuitableneſſe appertains to every calling and condition of life: and Nature hath taught Heathens themſelves to argue from dignity to duty, and to ſcorn to do any thing unworthy of themſelves. Scipio, when an harlot was offered him anſwered, Vellem, ſi non eſſem Imperator, I would, were I not a General. Antigonus being invited to a Feaſt where a notable harlot was to be preſent, asked counſel of Menedemus, what he ſhould do? No more but this, ſaid he, Remember that thou art a Kings ſon.foreign. Themiſtocles once, after a Victory, viewing the ſpoiles and pillage of the field, ſaid to his friend that bare him company, Take thou theſe rich ſpoiles to thy ſelf: for thou are not Themiſtocles: it is below me to ſtoop to them. When Pompey had Caeſar and Anthony in a Ship together, it was ſuggeſted to him by Metrodorus, to revenge himſelf for the death of his Father and Brother. To whom he replyed, that ſo to do, might haply befit Metrodorus, but in no wiſe Pompey. It is not for you to be fiſhing for Gudgeons, but for Towns, Forts, and Caſtles, ſaid Cleopatra to M. Antony. It is not for Gods Saints to walk as men: ſith they are children of the Kingdome, and muſt therefore regnum in pectore gerere, carry themſelves accordingly. We uſually ſay, ſuch a man underſtands himſelf well: that is, he knowes his place, his dignity, and walks accordingly. It is a puſillanimity to do otherwiſe; Nehemiah will never do it, to dye for it.
And now is there, that being as I am] So greatly beloved of God, Dan. 9.23. ſo highly favoured of the King, chap. 2.2, 4. ſo protected hitherto, ſo proſpered, ſo entruſted with the government and ſafety of this people, more dear to me then my very life.
Would go into the Temple] As a Malefactour to take Sanctuary there; or as a Coward to ſave mine own life with the loſſe of the lives of many of the precious ſonnes of life. Zion.
I will not go in] The Heavens ſhall ſooner fall then I will forſake the Truth,Will. Flower. Act. & Mon. 1430. In Epiſt. ſaid that Martyr. Omnia de me praeſumas praeter fugam & palinodiam, ſaid Luther to Staupicius, Ile rather dye, then flye: burn them turn. Latimer was wondrous bold and ſtout in his dealing with Henry the eighth, both before and after he was a Biſhop. So were Athanaſius, Ambroſe, Baſil; the primitive Confeſſours. This courage in Chriſtians the Heathen perſecutours called Obſtinacy, and not faith. Sed pro hac obſtinatione fidei morimur, ſaith Tertullian in his Apology, For this obſtinacy of faith we gladly dye: neither can we dye otherwiſe; for the love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. Life in Gods diſpleaſure is worſe then death: as death; in his true favour, is true life: as Bradford told Gardiner.
Verſe 12. And ſo I perceived that God had not ſent him] By my ſpiritual ſagacity I ſmelt him out: as having mine inward ſenſes habitually exerciſed to diſcern good and evil, Heb. 5. ult. Doth not the eare try words, as the mouth taſteth meat, Job 12.11? What though we have not received the Spirit of the World, (we cannot cog and comply as they can, yet) we have received a better thing, the Spirit of God, the mind of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 2.12, 16.
But that he pronounced this prophecy againſt me] To make my righteous ſoul ſad with his …yes, Ezek. 13.22. and to bring me to diſgrace, and danger. Luther was wont to adviſe Preachers, to ſee that theſe three Dogs did not follow them into the pulpit: Pride, Covetouſneſſe, and Envy.
For Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him] A mere mercenary he was then, and had Linguam Vaenalem: he could call good evil, and evil good, juſtify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteouſneſſe of the righteous from him, Iſa. 5.20. Such falſe prophets were Dr Shaw, and Frier Pinket in Rich. the thirds time, who made uſe of them as his Factours to obtrude baſtardy on his brother King Edward the fourth, and ſo to diſable his children for the Crown, that he might ſettle it upon his own head.Dan. Hiſt. What became of Pinket I know not, but Shaw (as aſhamed of his Sermon at Pauls croſſe) diſconſolately departed, and never after that was publikely ſeen. Like unto theſe, were Biſhop Bourn, and Cardinal Pool in Q. Maries dayes. The Cardinal, hired with the Archbiſhoprick of Canterbury, took for his Text, Eſay 66.8. and applyed it to England, as then happily reduced to the Popes obedience. Bourn, for the Biſhoprick of B…th, preached ſuch ſtaffe at Pauls-croſs, that the people were ready to tear him in pieces, They flang a Dagger at him in the Pulpit. Phlugius, Melch. Adam.and Sidonius, Authours of the Popiſh Book publiſhed in Germany by the name of Interim, Chriſma & oleum pontificium defendebant, ut ipſi diſcederent unctiores, defended Chriſme, and extreme unction, as being liquoured in the fiſts, and promoted to fat Biſhoprickes. But a Miniſter, as he ſhould have nothing to loſe, ſo he ſhould have as little to get: he ſhould be above all price or ſale. Nec prece, nec pretio ſhould be his Motto.
Verſe 13. Therefore was he hired, that I ſhould be afraid] But they were much miſtaken in their aimes: this matter was not malleable. Nehemiah was a man of another ſpirit; of a Caleb-like ſpirit: he was fide armatus, Deo armatus, and therefore undaunted: he was full of Spiritual mettle, for he knew whom he had truſted.
And do ſo, and ſin] Nehemiah feared nothing but ſin, and the fruit thereof, ſhame and reproach; ſo great was his ſpirit, ſo right ſet were both his judgment and affections. But if any thing would have drawn him aſide from the ſtraight wayes of the Lord, baſe fear was the likelieſt: as we ſee in David at Gath, and Peter in the High-prieſts hall. See Zeph. 3.13. with the Note. Peſſimus in dubiis Augur Timer.
And that they might have matter for an evil report] This, wicked men watch for, as a Dog doth for a bone: and if they get but the leaſt hint, oh how happy do they hold themſelves! what wide mouthes do they open, &c! It is our part therefore (by a Nehemiah-like converſation) to put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men, who, like Black-moores, deſpiſe beauty; like Dogs, bark at the ſhining of the Moon. Of Luther it was ſaid by Eraſmus, Nec hoſtes reperiant quod calumnientur. Of B. Hooper it is ſaid, that his life was ſo good, that no kind of ſlander (although diverſe went about to reprove it) could faſten any fault upon him.Act. & Mon. 1366. The like is reported of Bradford, and Bucer. We ſhould ſo carry our ſelves, ut nemo de nobis malè loqui abſque mendacio poſſit, as Hierom hath it: that none might ſpeak evil of us, without a manifeſt lye.
Verſe 14. My God, think upon Tobiah and Sanballat] Heb. Remember, to be revenged on them q.d. I cannot deal with them, but do thou do it. He doth himſelf no diſſervice (ſaith one) who when no Law will relieve him, maketh God his Chancellour. It is a fearful thing to be put over into his puniſhing hands by the Saints, as Joab and Shimei were unto Solomons hands by dying David. If men, in their beſt eſtate, are ſo weak that they are cruſhed before the moth, how ſhall they ſtand before this great God?
According to theſe their works] Qualia quiſque facit, talia quiſque luat: Let them drink as they have brewed.
And on the Propheteſſe Noadiah] Who joyned with Shemaiah in this diſſimulation, and was of his counſel. Omne malum ex gynaecio. Falſe Prophets and Seducers are ſeldome without their Women. Simon Magus had his Helena, Carpocrates his Marcellina, Apelles his Philumena, Montanus his Priſcilla, and Maximilla, &c.
And the reſt of the Prophets] Improperly ſo called, but ſo they pretended to be; and here they had conſpired, a great ſort of them, to do evil.
That would have put me in fear] By their concurrent propheſies, purpoſely to diſgrace and endanger me: Suffragia non ſunt numeranda, ſed expendenda. Multitude and antiquity are but ciphers in Divinity.
Verſe 15. So the Wall was finiſhed] Though with much ado, and maugre the malice of all forrein and inteſtine Enemies. So ſhall the work of grace in mens hearts: it is perfected there by oppoſition; and growes gradually, but conſtantly and infallibly.
In the twenty and fifth day of the monethmonth Elul] Which was their ſixth monethmonth, anſwering, moſt what,Beda. to our Auguſt. This (ſaith one) anſwered both unto the ſix dayes of Gods working to make the World, after which a reſt followed, and to the everlaſting reſt in Heaven after ſix ages of the World, ſpent in toil and labour!
In fifty and two dayes] A very ſhort time for the diſpatch of ſo great a work. But neſcit tarda molimina Spiritus Sancti gratia. God was much ſeen herein: and the Enemies courage much quailed.
Verſe 16. But what meant Joſephus to ſay, that the wall was in building two yeares and three moneths? It appeareth hereby, and by many other paſſages in his Jewiſh antiquities, that he had not much read, or at leaſt minded the holy Scriptures. Of this ſhort time ſpent in building the Wall, Daniel ſeemeth to prophecie, ſaith an Interpreter, when he ſaith,Dan. 9.25. that it ſhould be built again in anguſtiis temporum in the ſtraits of time: neither held we ſo much ſtrange at it, ſith the hands at it were many, and thoſe were motitantes, nimble and chearful; and the Princes were preſent to prick them on, and they repaired onelyonly and built upon the old foundation: And laſtly the very Enemies were convinced, that the work was wrought of God, ver. 16. what marvel therefore that it went ſo on end?
Verſe 16. When all our Enemies heard thereof] So famous a matter could not be concealed from them who liſtened with the leſt care, and readily received theſe foreign, as the Greeks call, galling reports.
Saw theſe things] For they ran to the ſight of it, as to a miracle; they looked alſo upon it with an evil and envious eye: like as the Papiſts do upon the Reformation.
They were much caſt down in their own eyes] They were creſt-faln, and dejected from the high-tops of their proud hopes, and deſignes. See what biles and ulcers the Antichriſtian rout are vexed with, and how they are ſcorched with the Sun-ſhine of the Goſpel, Rev. 16.2, 11. What mone Babels Merchants make to ſee her ruine and the riſe of the new Jeruſalem, chap. 18. ver. 11. Envy is vitium Diabolicum, the Devils diſeaſe, ſaith Auſtin: and thoſe that are troubled with it,In Pſal. 139. can never want wo.
For they perceived that this work was wrought of God] with ſuch incredible ſwiftneſſe was it carried on and accompliſhed, that they could not but ſay among the Heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them; God is with them of a truth.
Verſe 17. Moreover in thoſe dayes the Nobles of Judah] Heb. The White ones: either, becauſe they went in white garments, as Joſeph, Mordecai, &c. or becauſe they were illuſtrious and famous for wiſedome and vertue. But in theſe Nobles of Judah was nomen inane, crimen immane. Here was ſedes primà, vita ima, dignitas in indigno; hoc eſt, ornamentum in luto, white garments they might have, but withal, ſooty ſouls, and black manners.
Sent many Letters unto Tobiah] Heb. Multiplyed their Letters (or Packets) walking to Tobiah, with whom thereby they held correſpondency; as at this day they do with the Turkiſh Viſiers and Baſha's of ſtate, giving them continual intelligence of the affairs of Chriſtendom, and adviſing moſt of that miſchief which the Turk puts in execution againſt us.
Verſe 18. For there were many in Judah ſworn unto him] Beſides that intercourſe of Letters afore-mentioned, Tobiah had his penſioners among the Jews, who were his ſworn ſervants, and had taken oath, or (as the Hebrew hath it) they were Lords of an oath to him. In the year 1583. Girald Earle of Deſmond's men had barbarouſly vowed to forſwear God, before they would forſake him.Camb. Eliſab. Fol. 258. I know not what theſe Jews had ſworn to Tobiah (to be true to him likely, and to proſecute his deſignes:) but thoſe of them at this day living are great Swearers (they were ſo in St. James his time, chap. 9.12.) but they keep no oath, unleſſe they ſwear upon their own Torah, or Book of the Law,Weemſe. brought out of their Synagogues.
Becauſe he was the ſon-in-law of Shechaniah] One of thoſe corrupt Nobles, ver. 17. and Meſhullam was another, who alſo helped to build the Wall, chap. 3.4. and ſeemed forward, but now ſhewes himſelf in his colours. Thou mayeſt be the Fore-horſe in the teem (ſaith One) a Ring-leader of good exerciſes as Joaſh, 2 Chron. 24.4, 5, 6. Thou mayeſt flock after zealous Preachers, as thoſe did after John Baptiſt, Matth. 3. Yea ſtand out in perſecution, and not ſhrink in the wetting, as the thorny ground did not; and yet be no better than a very painted hypocrite.
Verſe 19. Alſo they reported his good deeds before me] Heb. His goodneſſes, as if he had been another Phocion, who was ſurnamed the good. But this was but in their opinion onelyonly, who had little enough goodneſſe, and skill to judge of it. Or if there were any good in him, yet Sunt bona miſta malis; and of him might be ſaid, as once of Sfortza Duke of Millain, Folieta Galeazo.that he was a very Monſter, made up and compact of Vertue, and Vice.