goodnes am bold to creepe in at a corner and present my felfe before thy throne of mercie quaking trembling at thy feareful iudgements sharpe iustice against sinne I offer vnto thee this poore soule carkesse the worke of thy owne hands made glorious by thee but foulie defaced by me I Lord I God do most humbly with a heauie hart and troubled mind beseech thee I most earnestlie with bitter teares beg craue of thee to cast me not away out of thy sight but gratiouslie to heare my praier For although thou dwellest in thy highe and holie place in heauen yet thou lookest downe into the earth to heare the sighing of the poore and deliuer the oppressed and though thou be greate and feareful in all thy workes yet I know thou art great in mercie and rich in goodnes For although thou hast punished sharplie yet thou sauest more mercifully Adam was cast out of Paradice in iustice yet had mercy offered vnto him in great plenty The entising of a woman made him to offend thee the blessed seed of the same woman hath bruised the serpents poisonful head deliuered vs. Thou therefore that art a God oftrueth keepest promise and shewest mercie to them that loue thee keepe thy commaundements looke pitifully on vs which forsaking our selues hang vpon thee and though we see thy deserued rod yet we fly to thy promised mercie though we haue not kept our promise made vnto thee in our Baptisme that we should forsake the Deuil world and flesh serue honour and faithfully obey thee our onely Lord God with al our hart strength powre soule yet art thou a true God in keeping thy promise and not casting vs of When we run from thee thou callest vs againe and not destroying vs sodenly tariest for our amendement When we hate thee and become thy open enemies thou remembring thy promise made to Abraham Dauid and our fathers seekest by all meanes to bring vs home againe to thee though we be vnfaithful thou art true though we forget thee thou remembrest vs. Though we deserue to be cast away from thee without al hope of redemption yet when thou fatherlie correctest vs in the midst of thine anger thou rememberest thy mercie and receiuest vs againe to thee We graunt O Lord that we doe not loue thee nor keepe thy commaundements as we ought yet Lord thou that art loue and charitie it selfe and louest all things that thou hast made and in thy deare sonne Christ Iesus doest imbrace vs not looking at our deserts but at his worthines who hath fulfilled the lawe for vs and made vs partakers of thy rightcousnes Lord God heare vs and haue pitie on vs. O thou Lord God of all mercie which neuer didst cast anie awaie that fled vnto thee open they eares heare the praiers of me thy humble suter shal I be the first whom thou wilt not heare Is thy mercie all spent none left in store for vs Open thy eies O god of our saluation behold the miserable state of thy poore people Our citie lieth waste the walles vnbuilt our enemies rush in on euerie side and we are a laughing stocke vnto them thou heardst the crying of Agar being cast out of her house thou lookedst at the oppression of Egipt thou pitiedst the woful sighing of Anna when thy people were oppressed of any enemies round about them thou raisedst vp one Iudge or other to deliuer them Consider O Lord I beseech thee our woful state we are spoiled on euerie side marke and hearken to the praier which I thy poore seruante make vnto thee which seest al secrets this day continually crying night daie with a simple vnfeined hart not for mine owne selfe whom thou hast so well placed in the courte with plentie of all things but for my breethren the children of Israel thy seruants the ofspring of thy deerbeloued Iacob which be in great heauines While they be in miserie I cannot be merrie Their greife is my sorow and their welfare is my reioysing I graunt O Lord we haue gricuouslie offended thee yet haue we not cast thee of nor forsaken thee to be our Lord we be thy seruants though vnthristy vnthankful miserable thou art a God rich in mercie to all that turne vnto thee I confesse O gratious God that the children of Israell haue sinned against thee yea not onely they O Lord but I my fathers house haue haynouslie broken thy commaundements and yet we dispaire not to obtaine thy fauour againe as children that haue offended their louing father There is none of vs free we plead mercie and not iustice we stand not in defence of our doings but yeald your selues into thy merciful hands While thou giuest vs a hart to praie we continually beleeue thou wiit heare vs in the end O Lord correct thou vs after thine owne good will and pleasure but giue vs not vp to the lust of thy enemies which blaspheme thee saying their God hath forsaken them their God cannot nor will not help them they hate vs not so much for our owne sinnes as for that we be called thy seruants O Lord let not thy holie name be ill spoken of through our wickednes rise and defend thine owne cause cast not awaie thy seruants in thy heauie displeasure What vantage canst thou haue in giuing vs ouer to thy foes they shall laugh when we shall weepe they will slaunder thy goodnes for our forgetfulnes of thee Thou promisedst O Lord by the mouth of thy Prophet that in what howre so-ever the sinner did repent thou wodlst no more remember his wickednes nor laie it to his charge We weepe we confesse and acknowledge our manisold wickednes wherewith we our fathers haue offended thee we cal for mercy we praie night and daie not doubting but thou wilt keepe thy promise in deliuering hearing vs in thy duetime Though we haue broken our promise in disobeying thee yet if it please thee thus to try our faith exercise our patience by laying on vs thy heauie hand and sharp correction thy good will be done giue vs strength to beare that thy wisdome will laie vpon vs laie on vs what thou wilt Thou gauest vs thy lawe to be a bridle to rule our wicked desires keepe vs within the compasse of them but we like mad men or rather wilde and vntamed beasts that cannot be tyed in cheines nor holden in anie bands haue outragiouslie broken all thy commaundements No lawes could rule vs no saying compell nor correction could staie vs but wilfullie we followed our owne phantasies There is nothing o Lord that thou canst laie to our charge but we willinglie and franklie confesse our selues guiltie thereof for we haue neither kept thy commaundements which thou gauest vs by Moses thy seruant wherein priuatlie we might learne how to direct our liues both towardes the our God and also toward all men Nor the ceremonies
fruits other things that god made for mans necessitie are perished punished turned into an other nature for the sinne of m an yea not onely worldlie things but his holy Temple law word religion the arke of God the Cherubins the pot with Manna the mercy seate Aarons rod with all therest of his holy Iewels were giuen vnto the wicked Nabuchadnezzers hand for the disobedience of the people God will rather suffer his opē enemies to enioy his wonderful benefits then his flattering friends When Adam had sinned the earth which afore was decked with al good fruits brought forth weeds to punish thē withal For the wickednes of Sodom God not onely cruellie destroied the people in it but to this day that pleasant ground which afore was like paradise is now barren full of filthie mire slitche tarre c. and the aire of it so pestilent as diuers doe write that if any birdes slie ouer it it killeth them The whole countrie of Iewrie a plentifull land flowing with milke and honie of his owne nature by the disobedience of the people became a barren land as Dauid teacheth in his psalme The lord turneth a fruit full ground into a barren for the wickednes of the dwellers in it Ierusalem was not onely destroyed now thus pitiously by the Babilonians but after ward by Vespasian the Emperour and had not one stone left standing on another and the Iewes driuen out ofit who now liue scattered through the world abhorred of all good men and vnder Gods heauie rodde for crucifying the Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God and their continual despising of him Let euerie man therefore learne reuerently in the feare of God to liue for sinne will not onely be punished with euerlasting death in the world to come but euen in this life man him-selfe is plagued and all things that should serue or pleasure him shalbe turned to his destruction because he would not serue his God as he ought to do What can be a more righteous iudgement of God then so to order things that no creature of God shal serue a wretched man which will not serue not feare the Lord his God and creator Sinne is so vile in Gods sight that ne will punish those innocent vnsensible and vnreasonable creatures as the stones in the wall the house wherein thou dwellest the earth whereby thou liuest which neuer sinned for the sinne of thee wretched man O consider how God abhorreth sinne and disobedience of his word that he could neuer be pacified but by the death of his owne deare sonne Christ Iesus for thy sinnes O miserable man consider thy wretched state thy sinnes pulled thy Lord Christ from heauen to hell from ioy to paine thou causedst him to be whipped and hanged on a tree thrust to the heart with a speare by his blood to saue the thou causedst him to die that thou mighst liue If thou shouldest deale thus with another man thy fellow what wouldest thou thinke thou hadst deserued And when thou hast thus misused thy Lord and Christ the sonne of God crucifiing him againe and yet continuest in sinne contemning his commaundements treading the sonne of God vnder thy feete and esteeming the blood of his eternall Testament as a prophane thing how canst thou looke vp vnto him how canst thou hope for mercie Wicked men are so horrible in Gods sight that the Angels in heauen abhorre them the creatures on earth disobey them good men flie their companie and diuels in hel pull them vnto them and yet malice hath so blinded them that they cannot turne vnto the Lord. But whatsoeuer there is in vs O God forget not thou thy selfe shew thy selfe a God stil though we forget thee As thou louedst vs when we were thine enemies so loue vs still now whom thou hast made thy freinds and bought so dearely and turne vs good God that we may loue thee Remember O Lord wherof we be made from the earth we came on the earth we liue and delightin earthly things vnto the earth we shall returne thou canst not looke for heauenly things to come from so vile a matter this earthly nature cannot be chaunged but by thy heauenly spirit deale not with vs therefore O Lord in iustice as we deserue but in thy great mercie which is our sure saluation and let thy manifold mercie deuoure our manifold miserie that our manifold sinnes be not laid to our charge Gratious God forgiue vs as our miserie is endlesse so is thy mercie much more large then we can thinke As we see God deale in his anger with this Citie for the sinne of the people that dwelled in it so he will deale with all obstinate breakers of his law in all ages and places without respect of persons The walls of the citie may well be compared to the Magistrats which both defend the people from their enemies and also gouern the Citizens within as the walls keepe out other from inuading so they keepe in the inhabitants from straying abroade the gates of the Citie may well be compared vnto the ministers which open the dore of life to all penitent persons by the comfortable preaching of mercie promised in Christ shut heauen gates against al reprobate and impenitent sinners by terrible thundring of his vengeance threatned to such in his worde The walls are destroied and the gates burned when the rulers and ministers doe not their duetie but care for other things And as this wretched people had iustly for their disobedience neither walls left to keepe out the enemie nor gates to let in their friends but all were destroied so shall all godles people be left without godly Magistrats to gouerne them and liue in slauerie vnder tyrants that oppresse them and also without comfortable Ministers to teach them and be led by blinde guides that deceiue them and so the blinde lead the blinde both fall in to the ditch to their vtter and endles destruction They be not worthie to haue either Magistrate or preacher that will not obey lawes nor beleeue the worde This Osee the Prophet foretold them should fall on them saying The people of Israell should sit manie daies without a Prince without sacrifice and Image without the Ephod and Teraphin and yet in the end they should returne vnto their God But they feared not these threatnings then no more then we doe now yet as they fell on them then so will they fall on vs now After that Nehemiah had thus diligentlie vewed the walls and the breaches of them he was more able to render a reason and talke with the rulers how they might be repaired A good rule for all those that haue anie charge commited to them that they should first priuatlie consider the things they haue to doe them-selues and then shal they be more able to consider who giueth best counsel for the doing of it Rashely to enter on it a wise man will not nor open his minde to
same king learned al the wisdome of the Egiptians and deliuered all the people from the slauerie that they liuedin Abdias hid and fed a hundreth Prophets in caues by fiftie in a companie whose liues Iesabel sought for him selfe being in the wicked courte of Achab and Iesabel Dassid feared the Lord in the courte of Saul though he escaped oft not without manie great daungers Daniel an auncient courtier in three kings daies kept the law of God his Lord diligently and being in great authoritie with the king had the charge of diuers countries committed vnto him which he ruled faithfullie and releeued gods people mightelic So did his three companions Sidrach Misach and Abednago Mardocheus in the courte of Assuerus saued the kings life whom his Chamberlaines wold haue murthered and deliuered al the Iewes which were appointed al by Haman on one daie to be slaine Ierome in his epistle commendeth one Nebridius who living in the courte and being Nephew to the Empresse behaued him selfe so vertuouslie that all his sutes were for the Reliefe of the poore The place therefore maketh no man ill but his illnes commeth of his owne wicked and crooked mind The daungerous life of courtiers if they will rebuke sinne and not sing Placebo the example of Iohn Baptist who lost his head for telling the trueth maie suffise to teach But let not good men be afraid for God hath the hart of Princes in his hand to turne as pleaseth him Doe thou thy duetie in the feare of God and he will defend the as he thinketh best 5. And I said I be seech thee O Lord God of heauen thou great and fearefull God which keepest couenant and mercie for them that loue thee and keepe thy commaundements 6. Let thy eares hearken I be seech thee thy eies be open to heare the praier of thy seruant which I praie before thee this day night daie for the children of Israell thy seruantes and knowledge for the sinnes of the children of Israell which they haue sinned against the yea I and my fathers house haue sinned 7. We haue outragiouslie sinned against thee and haue not keapt thy commaundements and thy ceremoneis and Iudgements which thou commaundest Moses thy seruant AS a man that is earnestly bent to praier hath commonly these outward things ioined with all that were spoken of afore as sitting or kneeling weeping a greeued minde sad countenance fasting and abstinence so necessarilie he muste haue a charitable minde and pitiful towards his breethren and an earnest and liuelie faith towards God which bothe appeare in Nehemiah for without these tow his praier cannnot be heard His louing mind towards his breethren appeareth in that he leauing all other pastimes so diligentlie inquireth of their estate and their countrie and disdaineth not to heare them but it is seene more euidently when he weepeth and mourneth fasteth and forbeareth dainties as though he were in miserie with them but speciallie when he taketh so great paines and trauaile to doe them good as appeareth hereafter throughout this booke His earnest faith appeareth in that he praieth and that onelie to the GOD of heauen and with such vehement and meete words as doe declare his full minde that he doubted not but God both could and would help them In trouble no man asketh help but ofhim whom he thinketh will doe him good And because there is none so merciful to heare and so willing to help as god him-selfe is in al our greifes we must turne vnto the Lord of heauen alone for other saynte there is none that wil help or can help The Apostle saith that he which wil come to the Lord must not onely beleeue that there is a God but also that he is a rewarder of them that seake him This faith therefore let vs bring with vs when we praie This faith did continue in Nehemiah though he had liued so manie yeares amongst the vnbeleeuing Persians which was a special gift of God to him in such troublesome times In praier let vs aske onely such thinges as may stand with Gods good pleasure For where many times folishly we aske things to our owne hurt God of his wisdome and fatherly goodnes doth not graunt them as S. Iames teacheth vs saying Ye aske and receiue not because ye aske euilly to spend it vppon your lusts I am afraid to enter into the opening of this praier because it is so parfect of it selfe that it cannot be amended yet for the helpe of the vnlearned for whose cause onely I take these paines I shal in fewe words open it more plainlie O thou Lord God of heauen earth which of thy meere loue towards man madestheauen earth the sea with al the furniture in them as the Sonne Moone and Starres fish fowle hearbs trees corne fruit and cattel and appointed them to serue him that he might serue honour and obeie thee which not onlie rulest feedest gouernest guidest thē all according to thy good pleasure but hast made heauen thy seat and the earth thy footstole that from hence out of this vale of miserie we should looke vp vnto thee our onelie God where thou reignest in thy Maiestie aboue all the heauens from whence we should looke for our deliuerance out of all troubles O thou greate feareful God whose creatures passe all powres of Princes against whom to striue is meere follie and with whom to wrastle is extreame madnesse whose might wisdom iustice is infinit whose mercie goodnesse and pitie hath no end which art so great that thou fillest all places not concluded in anie but art present euerie where seest all things whose maiestie surmounteth all creatures so farre that it cannot be conteined or ruled of any Thou great fearful God which in thy anger threwest thy angelsthat offended the out of thy glorious presence in heauen into euerlasting darknes ofhell who in thy rage drownedst all the world except eight persons which burnedst vp Sodom and Gomorah with fire brimstone from heauen which didst cast Adam and vs all out of Paradice for eating the forbidden Apple who causedst the man to be stoned to death for gathering a few sticks on the Sabbath daie which man would iudge to be but small faultes yet were great because they were contrarie to thy commaundements who killed Vzzah for vpholding the Arke being readie to fall which plauged Pharao with froges flies hailestones which made Nabuchadnezer of a mightie king a vile beast to eate grasse made Herod to be wiried with lice O thou great and feareful God at whose beck the deuils do tremble the earth doth quake the heauens shoote out hotte fierie thunderbolts the clouds powre out great stormes and tempests to destroie thine enimies O thou God of heauen thou great and feareful God I thy poore wretch vile worme and miserable creature voide of all goodnes and ful of all wretchednes I forsaking my selfe and trusting on thy
his God as if he loued or cared more for him then for the rest of the world This is the common vse of the Scripture to call him the God of Abraham Isaac Iacoh Dauid and Daniel because he did both deliuer them out of such troubles as none else could or would or anie hath bene so oft and wonderfullie deliuered as they were and also did so blesse and prosper them and their doings as the common sorte of men were not wont to be So they that see their owne miserie and how litle goodnes but rather punishment they deserue at Gods hand when they see the Lord pitie them remember them help them and blesse them they conceaue by and by such a loue toward God that it would please him to looke vpon them that for ioy they burst out into teares they call him their God because they feele his good will and fauour so much toward them and more then to other yea much more then they could deserue or be bolde to looke for at his hands And as one man vseth to help another by putting forth his hand to raise him that is fallen to giue him such things as he wanteth and to put awaie and defend him from such things as may hurt him so it is called the good hand ofGod when he either bestoweth his blessing and good things vpon vs or when he putteth away such daungers and euils from vs as might hurt vs as it were with his mightie and mercifull hand 9. And I came to the Captaines Nehemiah hath now taken his leaue at the Court and looseth no time but when he had prouided all things necessarie for his iourney he speedeth him selfe for ward and thinketh all time lost that is not bestowed in releeuing his countrie being in such miserie A straunge example to see a courtier leaue that wealth ease and authoritie that he was in go dwel so farr from the court where commonly it falleth out that he which is out of sight is out of minde and sone forgotten in an olde torne and decaied citie a rude people and poore countrie where he should not liue quietly for his enemies but take paines to build him selfe a house and the Citie where he would dwell to toyle and drudge like a poore labouring man that should worke for his liuing yea and many times to be sore assaulted of his enemies both openlie and priuilie to the great daun ger of his life as the rest of the booke following will declare But this is the case of earnest zealous men in religion that they can say with Dauid I haue chosen rather to bee a dore-keeper in the house of God then to dwell in the pallaces of sinners and it is better to bee one day there then a thousand els where God for his mercie sake raise vp some such few courtiers as Nehemiah was which can be content to forsake their owne ease wealth and authoritie and giue them-selues painfullie to traueill for the wealth oftheir countrie And because that is to be wished rather then hoped for good Lord giue vs such as wil be no hinderers and wil be content to liue in compasse quietlie and not seeke to trouble others that would serue the Lord willinglie Amen The king did not onelie deale thus liberallie with Nehemiah at his departure but also honorably sent him away with captaines horsemen safelie to conduct him on his iourney that none should hurt him by the way And where the king vsed him so courteouslie no doubt the rest of the court shewed him much curtesy for courtyers must needes like and mislike whatsoeuer the King seemeth to like or mislike to set vp or pull downe Courtyers commonly when the King speaketh haue lost both sense and witte for if the King seemeth to fauour any thing they all as men without vnderstanding saie it must needes be so If the King will not giue eare to heare a matter they are all deafe and cannot abide to heare speake of it If the King will not see it they all crie out awaie with it So that it is hard to tell whither is in more miserable case the king or such dissemblers for if the King haue no iudgement of him selfe he shall haue no help of such and they like witlesse men dare not speake a trueth Happie is that Prince therefore that hath wise counsellours about him which will duetifullie enforme him of matters vprightlie wiselie debate the matter with him without all double dealing as the other sorts doe When King Assuerus would aduaunce Haman euery man had him in reuerence but when Mardocheus was sett vp then was there crying Crucifige on Hamon But thus mercisullie doeth our Lord God deale with his Church and people that in euerie age he hath some about the Prince that both can and will speake and be heard though not for all generallie in their rage and persecution yet for many as occasion serueth which shalbe deliuered from such tyranny to glorifie their God for his mercy though many willingly spend their liues patiently to the praise of the same God eternallie But no rage shalbe so greate to roote out Gods chosen but the Lord will euer preserue a number euen by help of their enemies openly to worship and serue him in despite of all their foes Plinius the Ruler of a Prouince vnder Traiane the Emperour and appointed to punish the Christians sundrie waies seeing the great nomber of them doubted what he should doe and wrote to the Emperour that he found no wickednesse in them but that they would not worshipp Images and that they would sing psalmes before day-light vnto Christ as a God and did forbid all sinnes to be vsed among them The Emperour hearing this became a great deale more gentle vnto them Salustius tormenting Theodorus a Christian sundrie waies and along time to make him for sake his faith but all in vaine went to Iulianus the Emperour and tould him what he had done from the day breake vntil 10. of the clock and counselled him that he should proue that way no more by crueltie for they gat glory in suffering patiently and he gat shame in punnishing so sharply because they would not yeald vnto him Many moe such examples the ecclesiastical histories are ful of where God deliuered his people by the forespeach of their enemies but these shall suffice at this present God had now raysed vp Nehemiah and had giuen him fauour grace in the Kings sight to aske and obteine comfort for the deliuerance of his Church and people the Iewes which had bene so long in great miserie and slauerie Nehemiah then passeth on his iourney toward I erusalem with great speede and honour passeth the riuer Euphrates and those theeuish and daungerous waies that he was afraid of safely commeth to the rulers of the countrie beyond Euphrates deliuereth them the Kings commission for tymber and a band of new souldiers for his safe conduct into Iewrie that these might
to haue displeasure where none is deserued In this case were the miserable Iewes then the beloued people of God though now iustlie cast of for their wicked hate to our Christ the Sonne of the liuing God Beside that their Citie was burned the gates stood open that enemies might rush in murther and spoile them when they list except they should keepe a continuall greate watch which was to trouble some and costlie for them 4. And it came to passe What good commeth by hearing poore men speake appeareth heere plainlie in them that feare God For that pitiful state which he vnderstood his brethren the Iewes and that famous Citie Ierusalem to be in by their reporte did so mooue his hart and greiue him that he satte downe and wept certaine daies was sad for them fasted and praied vnto the Lord of heauen for them Hearing and seeing bee tow sences which bring into the minde of man to consider all things that be painefull or pleasant to others for except we see them or heare them we cannot learne or vnderstand them much lesse pitie them or be glad of them S. Paul saith likewise in Gods cause Faith commeth by hearing For when thou hearest the preacher declare the glorious maiestie of God his sharpe punishing of sinne the wretched estate of man that of him selfe can doe nothing but sinne and the euerlasting paines appointed for all hardharted sinners it maketh him to quake to enter into him-selfe condemne him-selfe aske for mercie from thenceforth to become a new man so when he heareth Gods great mercie declared to man in Christ it maketh him to beleeue loue obeie and follow so louing a father This profit then commeth by hearing the poore mans complainte that it mooueth them to pitie to teares to fasting and praying the Lord to releeue the miserie of thy oppressed brother Turne not therefore thy face from the poore but heare them and pitie them as thou woldst be heard and pitied thy selfe So in religion if thou wilt learne to feare God aright to know thy selfe amend thy life and what blessing God hath prepared for thee run not from the Church as many doe some for one cause some sor another but none for good but humble thy selfe in the sight of thy God and his people heare his worde reuerentlie beleeue it stedfastly obey it diligentlie praie earnestlie and God shal heape his blessings on the plentifullie And that we may the better vnderstand how this miserable case of his breethren countrie did touch his hart inwardly he sheweth it by his behauiour outwardly for the affections of the minde declare them-selues openlie in the face and behauiour of man when they growe great in the hart As if we be sorie our countenance is heauie sad and clowdie if we be merry our face hath a good culloure sheweth it selfe pleasantlie when we be ashamed of ill doing we blush in feare we be pale in anger high culloured and swolne in the face c. So this sorow for his breethren did so pinch him at the hart that he could not stand but sat downe as a mans leggs in heauines are so weake that they cannot beare him his hart was so burdened that he could not forbeare but brast out into teares for certaine daies he could not be merry eate nor drinke but fasted and in the end found no other remedie but turned him-selfe vnto the Lord fell vnto praier assuring him-selfe that God would heare him and releeue them in his due time when he thought good By this we may learne how coldelie they praie that cannot bend nor kneele when they speake to the Lord or if they kneele it is but on the one knee that must haue a soft quishion vnder it and a softer vnder his elboe Weepe he may not for disfiguring his face fasting is thought hipocrisie and a shame and when his panche is full then as priests with their drunken nowles said mattins and belked out Eructauit cor meum verbum bonum with good deuotion as they thought so he blusters out a fewe blustring words without due consideration of them then he thinketh he hath praied well O wretched man that forgettest thy God and thy selfe Remember what thou art alumpe of carth a sinke of sinne wormes meate and that bellie which thou carest so much for is but a stinking dunghill Downe proud pecocke consider when thou praicst that thou speakest to the Lord of heauen earth at whose beck the deuiles doe tremble his thunderbolts flie abroad to punish thy sinne who in his anger drowned the whole world except eight personnes burned Sodom and Gomorah with fire brimstone from heauen to pull downe thy proud hart and teach thee to feare his maiestie Learne of the poore Publicane which was so ashamed of his wicked life that he durst not looke vp vnto heauen but condemning him selfe cried O God be mercifull vnto me a sinner whereas the proud Pharisie stood stoutlie craking of his holynes as thou doest Learne of the woman of Chanaan to be earnest in praier goe not awaye from the Lord vntil thou feele thy conscience comforted and mercie promised for no doubt the Lord will heare such a praier These out ward things as kneeling weeping fasting are good helps preparations vnto praier as Sara continued three daies in fasting and praier that the Lord wold deliuer her from that shame and so Tobie marketh a generall rule ofit saying praier is good ioinedwith fasting Ecclesiasticus saith The praier of him that humbleth him selfe pearceth the cloudes she will not be comforted vntill she come nigh nor goe her waie till the highest God haue respect vntoher God graunt vs here to learne to pitie our poore breethren thus to prepare our selues to praie for them that our praier maie be heard in their need although I noted afore the disordred life of some leud courtiers which make so much of their painted sheath esteeme them-selues more then all the world doth besides and when they thinke they deale so cunninglie that they be not seene manie one espieth them laughes full drilie in their sleeues at them yet now in this godlie gentelman appeereth a contrarie dealing he may be a worthie paterne for all courtiers to follow The court is not ill of it selfe but a man if he will maie setue the Lord vprightlie and also defend his Church and profit the common-wealth mightelie and good men maie liue in it honestlie It is a daungerous place I graunt to liue in and manie occasions of ill are offred dailie in it yet not so wicked but good men liuing in it maie take great occasions to doe much good in it Ioseph in Pharaos courte a godlesse king prouided for all the countrie in the time of their great dearth scarcitie releeued his father breethren then the onely knowne Church of God in their necessitie Moses in the same courte though not vnder the
Sacraments sacrifices which thou appointedst vs to keepe in thy Religion and in them to worship the we haue not duelie regarded and kept but cast them awaie and followed the fashions of the heathen people about vs and such as we deuised our selues Our Priestes and Prophets haue taught vs lies and deuises of their owne heades yet haue we beene more readie to heare beleeue and follow them then thy holie will and word declared vnto vs in thy Booke oflife The Ciuill lawes by which thou appointedst thy common wealth to be ruled we haue broken disobeied liuing at our owne luste pleasure Our Iudges Rulers and lawyers haue sought their owne gaine more then Iustice to their people oppressing them wrongfullie There is no goodnesse in no sorte of vs Prince Priest People Iudge Ruler and all sortes from the highest to the lowest we haue all run astraie we denie it not but with many tears greiuous heart we fal before thy throne of mercie earnestlie crauing faithfully beleeuing to find mercie grace and pardon at thy hands With these and such like words he powred out his greife before the Lord. For no doubt he spake much more then is here written but these maie suffice to teach vs the like 8. Remember I besecch thee the word that thou commaundedst Moses thy seruant saying Ye will offend I will scatter you among the heathen 9. And if ye turne vnto mee keepe my commaundements doe them if ye were cast to the vttermost partes of heauen from thence I will gather you and will bring you to the place which I haue chosen to set my name there 10. They are thy seruants and thy people whom thou hast redeemed in thy great powre and with thy mightie hand 11. I beseech thee my Lord I praie thee let thy eare be bent to the praier of thy seruants which desire to feare thy name And giue good successe I praie thee to thy seruant this daie and graunt him mercie in the sight of this man And I was the Kings cupbearer Giue me leaue Lord I beseech thee to speake vnto thee and put thee in remembrance of those things which thou seemest to vs to haue quite forgotten Thou forewarnedst vs by thy faithful seruant Moses that Ifwe offended thee thou wouldst driue vs out of that pleasant countrie which thou gauest vs and scatter vs among the heathen people in all countries yet ifwe would turne vnto thee again and keepe thy commaundements there was no parte vnder heauen so farre of nor none so mightie or cruel against vs but thou wouldst bring vs again and settle vs in that place which thou hadst chosen and appointed vs to call on thy name there The first parte O God we finde too true we haue sinned and thou hast punished vs we haue broken thy lawes and thou hast scattred vs into all countries And if we liued among a people that knew thee or loued thee our banishment and losse of our countrie would be lesse grieuous vnto vs. But alas good God we liue amongst them that hate thee and laugh at vs they worship Gods of their owne making and thinke them to be of greatermight then thou the almightie and euerliuing God art This griefe we can-not digest this is so tedious vnto vs that we cannot be merry vntil thou restore vs. After our long captiuitie by Nebuchad-nezzar in Babilon thou seemedst to remember vs some thing moouedst the good king Cirus to giue licence to as many as would to goe home and build thy temple againe and this was some good token of thy loue and fauour toward vs but yet alas O Lord there be as many yeares or moe past since Cirus began this our deliuerance and y et we liue among the vnbeleeuing Persians a people as cruell and wicked as the Babilonians and the Caldeans were thou chaungest our captiuitie from one Kingdome to another and from countrie to countrie yet we neuer a whit the better We are not brought to thy promised place and holie land our Citie is burned vp and lieth vnhabited the walles are pulled downe and the gates lie open that our enemies may rush in on euerie side spoyle and murther vs at their pleasure By thy good seruant King Darius thou didst build vs a Temple to call vppon thy name in it that was some good hope that thou wouldst fullie deliuer vs from our enemies and mercifullie restore vs to our vndeserued countrie Thou seemest O Lord to haue kept parte of thy promise but yet the greatest parte is behinde Remember O God I beseech thee thy promise and bring vs home againe finish the thing that thou hast so prosperouslie begunne Thy enemies will thinke that eyther thou canst not or wilt not performe thy promise Arise O Lord deliuer vs fully that the world may know that thou art a true god in keeping thy promise Let thy enemies see that there is no people so strong to holde vs nor countrie so far of but thou both canst wilt destroy them that rebel against thee fully deliuer vs and bring vs home againe Pardon my rude boldnes gratious God which so saucily speake vnto thee the griefe of my heart is so great it brusteth out I cannot hold in but talke vnto thee as one doeth to another The faithfull hope that I haue in thee that thou wilt perfourme thy promise fullie maketh me thus boldely to speake yet the greatnes of our miserie and the weaknes of our faith maketh manie to thinke that thou hast forgotten vs. Beare with our weaknes and pardon our impatience The sick man that lieth in great paines looketh for the phisitians comming thinketh he cōmeth but slo wlie when he maketh all the haste he can and when he is come except he giue him some ease quicklie he thinketh that eyther he cannot or will not help him But the wisedome of the phisitian is such that if he should purge or let him blood presentlie it were great daunger or if he should satisfie his phantasie letting him eate and drinke what he list it would increase his paines and therefore he tarieth vntil he see better occasiō giuen so we O Lord lie in great paines and thinke thou tariest long we would gladlie haue our desires fulfilled but thy wisedome seeth the time is not yet come Giue vs patience O God to tary thy leysure or rather a speedifull deliueraunce Our weaknes is such that we cannot but murmure and grudge at our delayes and thinke thou hast forgotten vs. Beare with our foolishnes O Lord which cannot vnderstand the secret wisdome ofthy doings we iudge the according to our owne wits as we thinke good and submit not ourselues to thy wisdome which knowest what time is best and meetest for vs to taste of thy vndeserued goodnes We thinke thou hast forgotten vs is thou speedely satisfie not our desires Arise gratious God and deliuer vs that the world may see that thou remembrest thy promise
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
them that were freelie giuen vnto the Lord and all this people from that time forth as long as the common wealth stood serued the lord as faithfullie as any Iewes euē in their captiuitie neuer grudging that they were not called to no higher estate nor disdayned not at their drudging neuer 〈◊〉 awaie in anie troublesome time as they might casely haue don nor claymed any liberty nor wrought any displeasure to the 〈◊〉 where they might haue oft betrayed them and now most earnestlie fall to building and serue the Lord. A strange example that such a people continued faithfull in the house of God so many yeares and stood so stoutly in all stormes but when God calleth he blesseth and nothing is painful so they may serue the Lord as Dauid saith I had rather 〈◊〉 a doore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of God then to dwel in the Pallaces of sinners Saul would haue destroyed this people but god saued them and plagued him If we looke vnto our selues without 〈◊〉 we shall castly perceiue how vnlike we be vnto them how colde in seruing the Lord how soone wearie of our estate how desirous to climbe higher how chaungeable in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how 〈◊〉 to professe our Religion how flattering to men and how caried away with euery blast of newe doctrine God graunt vs to 〈◊〉 to be ashamed of it and to amend it Our owne daies haue giuen vs to many examples of such wauering worldlings And I feare our sinnes will shortly plucke the saine plagues on our heads againe so litle tokens of repentanee appeare amongst vs. We be the right Nethanims made free from sinne and seruants to the Lord. God graunt we be not found worsse being called Christians and liuing in tho time of grace vnder the bright light of Christ Iesus declared vnto vs in his gospel and by whom we be saued made free then these heathen people the 〈◊〉 were liuing in bondage vndershadowes of Moses law 〈◊〉 the fixt fanire of Salech wanteth not his praise here who being a yonger brother falleth to 〈◊〉 and no mention made of the elder There must be no curtesie making who shall begin God hath oft called the yonger to serue him before the elder as Iacob Dauid c. Thus the holy ghost hath Registred vnto vs the names and diligence of the builders of this earthlie Citie Ierusalem by the penne of his faithfull seruant Nehemiah for our comfort and to teach vs that much more he hath registred the names of the builders of the spirituall Ierusalem in the booke of life where no deuil can scrape them out but shalbe the deare Children of the Lord God defended by him from all ill Let vs therefore cast away this slothfull sluggishnes wherein we haue lyen so long rise vp quickly worke lustely spit on our hands and take good holde that we fall not backe againe from our Lord God It is more honor to be a workeman in this house then to liue the easiest life that the world can giue A PRAIER AS thou didst choose vnto thy selfe here in earth O mightie Lord a certeyne place and Citie Ierusalem whether thy people should resort to worship thee to offer their Sacrifices make their supplications vnto the as long as they did it faithfully thou didst blesse and prosper their doings when they offended and fel away from thee thou laidst thy heauie hand and sharpe scourge vppon them so graunt vnto vs O gracious God whome thou hast made free by thy deare sonne Christ Iesus and not bound vs to any one place but hast left vs free in libertie of conscience to assemble our selues call vppon thee in euery place corner of the earth to preach thy word learne our duetie and set forth thy maiestie to receiue thy sacraments offer our selues our soules bodies a sweet sacrifice to thee graunt vs we besech thee O mercifull father thy louing countenance to continue thy blessings amongst vs and deale not with vs in thine anger as we iustly haue deserued to be cast away from thee but as thou in thine anger greeuously punishedst thy people the Iewes burnedst their Citie destroiedst their Temple Spoiledst the countrie leddest a great number into Captiuity killedst moe and broughtst them all into bondage and slauery vnder heathen Princes So louing Lord we confesse our horrible sinnes haue deserued no lesse in iustice at thy hands but thy mercie O God triumpheth against iustice for as after a few yeares correction thou mouedst diuers heathen Princes to send home thy people with great gifts to repaire the broken walls build the Temple inhabit the Countrie and restore thy Religion and stirredst vp also thy people Preists Princes Nobles worshipfull Ruelers and Priuate men Artificers Women and of all sorts some earnestly to worke at the building of thy citie So heauenly King let vs not be cast away in thy heauie displeasure and be the first that cannot finde fauour in thy sight but turne the heartes of Christian Princes to giue sree course and libertie to thy word of saluation and raise vp faithfull workmen of all sortes and degrees to build thy spirituall Ierusalem thrust forth true labourers into thy haruest roote out all slothfull slugishnes from amongst vs that we be not vnprofitable members of the Church and commonwealth and let all magistrates know that by thee they rule that thou settest them in authoritie and mainteinest them that feare thee and make them not onely to offer vnto thee their bounden duety and seruice in building and working them-selues to the good example of others but also in encouraging and defending the faithfull labourers in thy vineyeard and compelling the froward diligently to set forward thy building graunt vs strong walls and bulwarkes to kepe out Turke Pope Tyrantes Atheists Anabaptists and libertines with al other hinderers of thy building that thy simple people may liue quietly serue thee without Inuasions or persecution as of thy great mercie thou hast left to vs in writing the names of al such as were the chiefest doers in this worke for our comfort example to follow so we beseech thee louing Lord to stirre vp those whose names thou haste written in the booke of life that manfully they may stand in the defence of thy trueth to the confusiō of thy foes thy immortall praise for thy Christs sake Amen CHAP. 4. 1. It came to passe when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall he was verie angrie in him-selfe and disdeined greatly and mocked the Iewes 2. And he spake afore his breethren and the Souldyers of Samaria and saied what doe these Impotent Iewes will they make them-selues strong Shall they offer Sacrifice Shall they finish it in a day Shall they reare vp the stones out of the dust where they were brent 3. And Tobias the Ammonite was beside him saied yea that which they doe build if a fox come vp he shall breake downe their wall of stone THe last Chapter declared vnto vs
continue as in the beginning But ynough was said of this matter afore in the 2. Chap. 19. verse This is then the remedie that Dauid vseth in all these griefes fall to prayer commend thy cause vnto the Lord fall not from him for any storme tarie the Lords leisure and plaie the man comforte thy heart looke for the Lords comming and sate vnto him with Dauid haue mercy on vs O Lord haue mercie on vs for we are vtterlie dispised Our soule is full of the sclaunders of these wealthie worldlings dispising of the proud No doubt the Lord wil comfort thee confound thē as our daies haue well declared 4. Harken thou O our God for we are dispised turne their shame vpon their owne head and make them dispised in the land of their captiuitie 5. Couer not their wickednes and let not their sinne be put out of thy sight for they haue prouoked the builders 6. Then we builded the wall and the whole was ioyned togither vnto the halfe hight and the people had a minde to worke AFter that he had described the mockings and threatnings that they had for their bold enterprise in building to discourage driue them from it if they could if it had bene possible he now declareth what remedie and comfort he found by praier at the Lords hand Nehemiah seeing their great daunger turneth him to the Lord the people praying with him and saieth Our God that hast chosen vs onelie though most vnworthie for thy people amongst the whole world and whom onelie we worship and at whom we seeke for help and deliuerance in all our trouble hearken we beseech thee O Lord bow downe thine eare and heare our praiers for thou art a righteous iudge and mightie reuenger of all thy faithful seruants we thy poore people are in a miserable case we looked for aide at our neighbours hands they are our vtter enemies we hoped for comfort of them and they vtterlie dispise mocke and contemne vs but thou art a God that neuer for sakest any that come vnto thee nor castest anie awaie that faithfullie trust in thee heare vs O gratious God and turne their owne shame that they would lay on vs for building thy citie on their owne heades that villany that they would doe to vs let it fall on them-selues If thou let this crueltie scape vnpunished thou shalt be thought negligent and careles of thy people these Samaritanes that be so cruell against vs be straungers in the countrie where they dwel as we were in Babilon they were brought out of their owne countrie and placed here by Ezer-haddon King of Assiria make them O Lord to be dispised in this land of their captiuitie as well as they dispised vs in our miserie O Lord let not their wickednes be hid but make it knowen to all the world and all ages to come how dispitefully they deale with vs for thy sake others will attempt the like if this scape vnpunished Forgiue not their sinnes but euer keepe them in thy remembrance thou shalt not be thought arighteous iudge if thou wincke at such wickednes they hinder not our owne buildings but they prouoke the builders of thy house and Citie They dispise vs because we serue thee They hate vs not for any of our wickednes but for the hatred that they beare to thy house Religion and Citie which they would haue lie wast ouerthrowen and troden downe We grant we haue deserued to be cast awaie from thee if thou deale with vs in iustice and yet after thy fatherlie correction we obedientlie returne and submit our selues vnto thee whereas they contemptuously still rebell against thee and hate vs because we loue thee If they did persecute vs for our owne deserts we wold beare it but to see thy maiestie defaced we cannot abide it they would haue thy Citie to lie vnbuilt that men might speake ill of thee that thou were a weake God not able to defend thy people that call on thy name so mightelie as their Idols do them that know not thee The shame that they would lay on vs shall turne vnto thee O Lord for it is done vnto vs for thy sake and hatred of thee and thy word Auenge thy owne quarell O God and looke not at our owne deserts for though we haue grieuously offended thee yet we repent and they obstinately stand in defence of their owne wickednes O Lord forget not this malicious dealing of them toward vs for thy sake abate their pride assuage their malice and confound their deuises that they intend against vs comfort and encourage thy poore woorkemen builders whom they prouoke to anger and graunt vs that we may by thy aide with good successe finish that which we haue through thy goodnes so well begonne Amen Out of his praier may arise two doubts one whether it be godlie good men may vse the like that he praieth for here that is that the same ill may fall on them that they would doe vnto the Iewes The other that their sinne should not be forgiuen them The Scripture teacheth both to praie for our enemies and to forgiue them and also that God would reuenge their cause him-selfe in his iustice Our sauiour Christ praieth for them that crucified him saiyng Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe S. Steuen likewise But Dauid manie times praieth the contrarie as Let his sorow be turned on his owne head and let his wickednes fall vpon his owne pate Againe let them be confounded and ashamed that seeke for my life and let them be driuen backe and ashamed that seeke to 〈◊〉 me euill These Psalmes and others are full of such like speeches And where some expound such places to be a prophecie and fore-telling ofsuch mischiefes as should fal on them rather then a wishing or praing that they should fall it is not ill that they saie but it maie be doubted whither it be most agreeing to the text but howsoeuer it be this must be most taken heede of that in all such praiers nothing be asked of mallice against the partie which is hard for our froward nature to do but only for the glorie of God which is to be sought in all our doings and praiers which maie be in shewing his iustice In the Lords praier we saie halowed be thy name we desire not God onelie that he would direct both euerie man in his doings to set forth his glorie that his name may be hallowed but also that he would staie confound and take away all hinderers of the same with all their deuices and subtill practises that all stumbling blockes being taken awaie his name may be sanctified in all nations So praied ` Dauid O my God make the counsell of Achitophel to seeme foolish so in the commaundements the affirmatiue is included in the negatiue and the negatiue in the affirmatiue as thou shalt not kill wherein we are not onelie forbidden all crueltie but are
the sight of his God as this people did for so the Hebrew word here signifieth forsaking him-selfe as vnable to help him-selfe condemning him selfe as vnworthle to receiue such a blessing at the Lords hand and yet nothing doubting but that his God that neuer forsaketh them that vnfeinedlie flie vnto him will deale with him in mercie and not in iustice deliuer him and comfort him not for anie goodnes that he findeth in him but of his owne meere pitie loue grace and mercie whereby he maie shew him selfe a glorious God a present help and succour to all afflicted and oppressed mindes He that findeth any thing in himselfe to help and comfort him selfe withall needeth not to praie but he that seeth and feeleth his present want necessitie he will beg earnestlie craue egerlie confessing where his reliefe is to be had No man will praie for that thing which he hath or thinketh him selfe to haue but we euer aske desire beg pray for that we want Let vs therefore in all our supplications and praiers vnto the Lord first confesse our beggerlie pouertie and vnablenes to help our selues the want of his heauenlie grace and fatherlie assistance then our gratious God wil plenteously powre his blessings into our empty soules fill them with his grace If we be full alreadie there is no rowme left to take any more therefore we must know our selues to be emptie and hungrie or else we shal not earnestlie desire this heauenlie comfort from aboue which is requisite in all praier For he that asketh coldlie getteth nothing And the more that we confesse our owne weaknes our want and vnablenes the more we confesse our God to be almightie rich in mercie possessing all things in his owne hands and dealing them abroad to his poore people where he seeth them neede and sending the rich emptie away And as we must thus cast downe our selues in our selues by faith to our God to praie to no other but vuto the liuing Lord that made heauen and earth as this people doeth and therefore call him their God For if we seeke help at any other we mistrust him we doe not faithfully beleeue on him then we shall not be heard of him Call on me in the daie of thy trouble saith thy God and I will deliuer thee I aske no other reward but to glorifie praise thanke me knowing thy safety deliueraunce to come from me But these men did not onely pray to their God but according to their duetie they put them-selues in a readines to defend themselues against their enemies which is lawfull for all men to doe It is not sufficient to pray and then to neglect such meanes as God hath appointed vs to vse for our defence and comfort no more then it is to saie when he hath praied I will liue without meat and drinke and God him-selfe shall feede me For as the Lord hath taught vs to pray giue vs this day our daily bread so he hath comman ded vs to worke for it and saieth he that doeth not labour let him not eat So here it was not sufficient to call vpon their God though he was most mightie and louing vnto them but they keepe watch and ward put on Armour take their weapons not cowardlie creeping into corners but stand forth stoutly on the toppe of the walls by the workemens elboes in the sight of their enemies that they might see that they were not afraied of them but would manfullie defend them selues the workemen against al assaults they could deuise They had a stronger God to defend them then any deuill could be to hurt them or ouerthrow their worke So praier and Gods prouidence destroyeth not pollicie but maintayneth it and when they be ioyned togither god blesseth them both as his owne ordinance They knew well how true it was that Dauid said Except the Lord defend the Citie the watch-men watch in vaine that keepe it But when the Lord defendeth it and the wacth-men doe their dueties faithfullie trusting in the Lord and not foolishlie bragging of their owne strength and powre then is that citie wel and stronglie kept The Childrē of Ruben Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasse as it is written when they fought against the Agarens gat the victory and all because they ioyned praier with their powre not trusting in them-selues but in the mightie Lord of hostes who heard them and ouerthrew their enemies Thus must good Captains learne to ioyne praier with pollicie if they looke to obteine the victorie and not trust in horsse Speare shield or other kinde of weapons God ruleth those that feare him in battaile as well as in peace and those that trust in their owne strength he will ouerthrow Constantine the great that worthie Emperour our countrie man taught his souldiers dailie to pray thus We knowledge thee O Lord we know thee for a King we call on thee for our help from thee we haue the victorie and by thee we are conquerours we giue thee thankes for this present prosperity and by thee we hope for things to come we all are humble suters vnto thee that our Emperour and his Godlie Children may be preserued safe long to liue and we humblie be seech thee that he may be a valiant conquerour c. And that Captaines may not doe what they list but must learne to defend good causes onelie Theodosius the good Emperour teacheth in his praier that he maketh for him selfe saying O almightie God thou knowest that I haue taken these warres in hand in the name of Christ thy sonne for a iust reuenge if it be otherwise reuenge thou it on me but if I come hither in a good quarrell trust in thee then reach forth thy right hand vnto thy people lest peraduenture the heathen people will say where is their god By Moses law the priests should goe to the sield with the armie to encourage teach and comfort them euen when they should ioyne battell The papist wil haue his morow masse Priest with him and yet such negligence is in those that call them-selues Protestants that they thinke the companie worsse if a learned minister be among them and if he will rebuke their spoile gaming swearing whooring they are wearie of him and if he touch anie of the better sort then awaie with him or else worke him some displeasure So rashlie we cast of the Lords yoke so folishlie we enter into warres as though the victorie laic in our owne hands and God did not bestowe it on whom he thinketh best Iohn Baptist when the souldiers came to him to be baptized as other sorts of men did he taught euerie one how to amend their liues and to the souldiers he saith doe violence to no man accuse none falselie and be content with your wages God graunt all good souldiers to follow these lessons vnfeinedlie for the holie Ghost noteth these as common faults that such kinde
striuing who shall be Peters successour in authoritie but I feare Iudas hath more followers which cowardlie and greedelie for a little money hinder betraie and vndermine both the faithfull builders and building If it be heynous treason to betray one man whom thou owest dutie reuerence and faithfull seruice vnto it must needes be much more heynous in a Citie a Campe a Church or anie societie where faithfulnes should be found to deceiue runne awaie deale dissemblinglie or to disswade discourage and withdraw anie or manie from their dutifull obedience labour diligence and faithfull dealing to the dishonour of God the ouerthrow of Religion and hurt of his people God for his mercie sake roote out all desperat Iudases from among all faithful companies that they may not discourage others and speciallie from among the flocke of Christ whom he hath so dearlie bought that the Lords building may goe forward lustelie What these Romish rubbish be I had rather leaue it to other mens considerations then by blotting of paper and filling mens eares with such filthines stand to rehearse them but among many I thinke none worsse then manie lewde dispensations which such idle lubbers seeke for whereby their dutie is vndone But manie a good builder will not build on the sand but dig to the sad earth and the good husband will plucke vp the weedes afore he sow good Corne so surelie in Gods Church ill doctrines Ceremonies Customes and Superstitions must be rooted out afore good Lawes Orders wholsome doctrine gouernment can take place 11. And our enemies saied The malice of Sathan by his members Is so great against the building of Gods Citie that by all meanes openly and priuilie inward enemies and outward faire words and foule Sword fire and fagget warre or peace Teaching or holding their tongue knowledge or Ignorance vndermyning or Conspiracies and all other deuices whatsoeuer they let none slip but trie all that they may ouerthrow all and not so much to doe them selues good as to hinder others to set vp them-selues in the sight of the world and to deface the glorie of God but in the end all is in vaine and our God shall haue the victorie They will not yet vse any open violence but cunningly come on them vnawares be on them afore they know it or looke for it secretly prepare all things necessary for their purpose and steale on them priuilie that they shalbe in the midst of them afore they wot where they be they will kill them shed their blood mercilesly murther them and make that building to cease ouerthrow the walls pull downe the Bulwarkes and so ouerwhelme them that they neuer dare attempt anie such building any more O monstrous malice against thy Lord to thine owne destruction in hindring his building and his immortall praise in defending of it What foolishnes is this to striue against the almightie a wretched worme on the earth to rebell against the lords holie will and determinate pleasure in heauen Nothing greeueth them so much as to see this worke goe forward if this worke were laied a sleepe their harts were wel eased but our God in patience letteth them vtter their malice that in his iustice he may ouerthrow them In this Serpentine craftie and deuilish dealing of these wicked men appeereth the old Serpentine deuilish nature and malice of Sathan that old cankered enemie of God and man from the beginning God saied to the Serpent that the seede of the woman should tread vppon his heade and the Serpent should tread vpon his heele Craftie and subtil men when they will worke a mischiefe goe priuilie about it to deceiue the good man as the Serpent if he will sting a man will not looke him in the face but steale on him priuilie when he seeth him not God endued man when he made him with such a maiestie in his face afore he fell to sinne that all creatures did reuerence and feare him and although sinne hath much defaced and blotted out that Noble Maiestie and grace that God endued him with yet it is not vtterly disgraced and taken awaie but some sparke and Relique remaineth at this day that no wilde nor venemous beast dare looke a man in the face boldlie and hurt him but will giue place for the time and seeke how he may priuilie wound or hurt him when he seeth him not It is good wisdome therfore for euery man that shall be in daunger of anie such hurtfull beastes allwayes to looke them in the face and beware when he turneth his eie from them that they sodenlie and subtillie leape not on him and hurt him These craftie and subtill foxes therefore like the seede of the Serpent would not openlie inuade nor gather anie great power of men against them but at vnawares steale on them priuilie afore they should suspect anie such thing This is the nature of wicked men so craftelie to vndermine the Godlie The next propertie of the Serpent that appeereth in these diuellish men is that they mercileslie would murther them when they hadde once thus sodainly inuaded them Sathan was a murtherer from the beginning as Saint Iohn saieth and therefore no maruell ifhis Children be bloodsuckers like vnto the father when he would not spare the innocent Lamb of God Iesus Christ but most cruellie crucified him why should we maruell to see himby his wicked Childrenso greedelie seeke to shed innocent blood still The last propertie of Sathan appeereth here most plainlie in these wicked men in that they would so gladlie ouerthrow this building of Ierusalem that it should neuer be thought on anie more Sathan is the Prince of this world and therefore cannot abide another King to reigne nor anie kingdome to be set vp but his owne and for mainteining of that he will striue by his members vnto death If a man would describe a Papist I know not where he should finde a more liuelie Example then these men be The Papist is close and subtill in going about to worke his feate on a sudden as these men were afore it be spied if God vtter it not Their bloodie hearts and hands haue filled all countries in all ages with shedding innocent blood but especially this age plainely declareth to them that will not be willfullie blinde howtrue it is Those bloodie mariages in Fraunce of late which were pretended to be made for peace loue and quietnes shallbe witnesses against them of these kinde of dealings though they reioyce in their mischiefe vnto the worldes end Saint Paul calleth the Deuill not onely a Prince but a God of the world because he disdaineth the glorie of God and would haue that honour giuen vnto him-selfe And that ye maie easilie see who is his truely begotten sonne looke who sit teth in the Temple of God boasting him selfe as God as Saint Paul saieth who sitteth so deepely in ignoraunt mens Consciences that they dare not offend him but thinke him to be holiest who taketh in hand to
can deuour the poorest simple sheepe of the Lords if he cannot meete with a better pray The people are worthie no lesse praise then the rulers for they are as readie to obey as the other to commaund and so ioyning to gither in the feare of God brotherlie loue and due obedience to their rulers this worke goeth forward and God blesseth their labour As for me and my breethren Now lest Nehemiah should seeme to busie and impious to commaund all other and to doe nothing himselfe which were a point of oppression or tyrannie as Pharaoh did to the Israelits in Egipt he saith both he his breethren seruants and watch-men tooke as much paines as the worst of them which is the propertie of a good Captaine to doe for they wrought and watched so diligentlie that they put not of their cloathes to sleepe or take rest but onelie when they were foule and must needes be washed O worthie example God graunt vs manie such rulers and Captaines both in Gods Church and common-wealth When the people and souldiers shall see the rulers Captaines take paines as well as they doe it maketh them both ashamed if they draw back and also encourageth them to be with the foremost Iulius Cesar to encourage his souldiers would not take paines himselfe but the rather to stirre them more willinglie to labour he calleth them not souldiers nor commaundeth like a Captaine but gentlie speaketh vnto them calleth them fellowe-Souldiers as though he were no better then one of them So in great workes the chiefe master when it commeth to a dead lift or some daunger like to folow he will lay to his hand him felfe he will climbe he wil lift as busilie as anie of his seruants and say to them now good fellowes spitt on your hands lift once againe and we haue wonne it now play the men and we shall be past the worst streight waie Such examples of the better sort with gentle perswasions in words will make the common sort to refuse no paines be the danger neuer so great Abimelech when he would smother the men that fled into the towre of Sichem and could not get them out he gat first him selfe boughes of greene Trees and bad euery one of his Souldiers doe as they saw him doe When euerie man had loden him self with greene boughes Abimelech goeth first and setteth his boughes on fire the rest of the Souldiers seeing him so bold and forward they set their boughes on fire too and so easilie they killed them that were within with smoke So much can the example of a Captaine or good master doe God graunt manie such foregoers in Gods Church and then the people will follow fast ynough What maketh the people draw back so much at this day but that gentlemen preists goe not afore Want of good example and due correction maketh manie to doe ill without feare of God and man Dauid when he would stirr vp the people earnestlie to serue the Lord and diligentlie to resort to the Tabernacle of prayer saith O come let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs reioice in the strength of our saluation He biddeth them not goe pray and he will goe play but he will be foremost him selfe in praysing the Lord call on them to follow When they were thus to watch and ward night and day to forgoe their pleasures take infinit paines in building this earthlie Citie and walls of Ierusalem it teacheth vs how diligent we ought to be in building the spirituall Ierusalem Christ his deare Spouse and Church by prayer preaching watching fasting and all other Godlie exercises A PRAIER AS thou O Lord of thy infinit and vndeserued goodnesse stirredst vp thy faithfull seruant Nehemiah to pitie the lamentable state of Ierusalem and gauest him such fauour in the sight of King Artaxerxes procuredst licence and liberty great rewards liberalitie to all them that would repaire the broken walles of the Citie mouedst his heart to leaue the wanton pleasures of the Court aud madest him willing to toile at thy worke not onelie prosperedst their doings but defendedst them from their mortal enemies manie and sundrie times being cruellie assaulted both by inward hypocrites and outward force so we beseech thee most mercifull father for thine owne mercies sake looke pitifullie at thy ragged and torne church the contēned spouse of thy deerely beloued son Christ Iesus raise vp some faithful seruants in euerie countrie that may obteyne such fauour in the sight of Chistian Princes that with freedome of conscience and quietnesse of the countrie the Kingdome of thy sonne and our sauiour may be truelie preached obedientlie receiued faithfullie beleeued and diligentlie followed to the ouerthrow of Antechrist and all his members and the endlesse comfort of thy poore afflicted people Confound O gratious God Sanballat Tobias and all their partakers which laugh to scorne the simplicitie of the Gospell and builders of the Church make them to be scorned that the world may see what foolish wickednes it is to rebell against thy holie will and how litle all such shall preuaile in the end Turne awaie all open violence that shall be deuised against vs outwardlie Keepe vs from ciuill warre and sedition inwardlie Confound all wicked counsells and conspiracies of Ahitophell with his fellowes and ouerthrow the subtill practises of Iudas and such hypocrits Encourage the people that they feare not their braggs nor bigge lookes but manfullie may stand in defence of thy trueth and boldlie confesse thee in all dangers knowing thee to be the onelie Lord and giuer of all victorie that none shalbe ashamed nor left succourles that flie vnto thee in their great necessitie Giue vs grace to pray and put our trust in thee as this people haue done afore vs that we may finde the like grace fauour and deliuer aunce that they did Giue vs we most humblie beseech thee O gratious God such guids and Rulers in the common-wealth as will worke with the one hand and fight with the other keepe watch and ward night and day to driue awaie the outward enemie and will defend thy poore sheepe from the Rebellious practises of Sathan among our selues Thurst forth such faithfull preachers for the adauncement of thy glory only which without any worldly respect of profit or pleasure may purely teach thy holy will declared in thy blessed word roote out all errours in doctrine and deformities in life and may by the powre of thy holie spirit bring home all those that be runne astray confirme and strengthen those that doe stand and raise vp those that be fallen that in vnity of minde brotherlie loue and Christian faith we may be liuelie stones in the spirituall building of thy house may acknowledge thee our onelie God and thou of thy accustomed goodnes and free mercy maist take vs to thy children and defend vs as our Lord Teach vs as a Schoolemaster feed vs as a Shepherd make vs partakers of thy glorious
and countrie-men that they shall be compelled willinglie though against their wills to sell their children for slaues or else die for hunger At straungers hands and speciallie if they be of another religion no man looketh for anie fauour and if anie doe come it is more then looked for and so much the more welcome when it commeth but at a friend and countrie-mans hand where all courtesie is to be looked for and to finde none but all extremitie is a griefe aboue all griefes and mans hart can neuer digest it It is against God against nature and common reason which teacheth all gentlenes to such nay it is worsse then beastlines for one beast will not deale so cruellie with another of his owne kinde and one theefe will not robbe another therefore to be spoiled and robbed by them of whom they should be defended releeued it is a griefe that passeth all sorowes But if these sorowes could haue an end or there were anie hope to haue release of them in time we could take it the better and haue some comfort but all hope is taken away for we haue no powre left we haue nothing to help our selues withall we haue wrastled as long as we might and made shift as long as it would be but now we are able to beare it no more we haue nothing left all is spent and gone and we cannot deuise where to get anie more our houses our lands and vineyeards other men haue cruellie gotten from vs and vnmercifullie doe keepe them haue no regard to help vs in this our great and extreame necessitie We can doe nothing but crie out on heauen and earth but they hardned their harts and stopt their eares that they will not heare nor pitie vs. Mercie is gone crueltie oppression and greedines carie them away that both forget God and themselues This was the miserable state of that time a man would haue thought that the miserie slauerie and bondage that they them-selues were in oflate vnder heathen princes in strange coun tries and so late being restored through Gods free and vndeserued goodnes to their owne countrie with libertie great gifts and liberalitie to build their temple and Citie should not haue bene so sone forgotten but as they then would haue bene glad of some releefe succor courtesie to be shewed vnto them at straungers hands so they should now shew the like vnto their breethren and countrimen But such is the wickednes of mans hart that the more mercies we receiue at Gods hand the more vnthankefull we be and such is the malice of Sathan against God his Church and people that when the Lord of his owne free will and vndeserued goodnes bestoweth his mercie vpon his seruants the Deuill by his membres and all deuises possible goeth about to ouerthrow and withdraw all sorts of men so much as in him is to a forgetfulnes of such merciful goodnes bestowed vpon them and maketh them vnmercifull to their breethren which haue receiued so great mercie at the Lords hand Religion is the chiefest help that God hath giuen vs to knowe him by to bridle our ill affections and desires withall to make vs loue one another and set forth his glorie aud yet if we looke into our selues in these daies we shall finde that there was neuer greater crueltie oppression of the poore Hypocrisie and dissembling in Gods cause and vnmercifulnes amongst men in this land then hath bene since the beginning of the reforming of Religion amongst vs yea and that is more wonderful of such as would pretend to be fauourers of Religion Hypocrites as they vse nothing well so they misuse Religion for a cloake to worke their owne wil and pleasure by to the defacing of all good Religion Things be fresh in memorie and cannot be forgotten of them that will not willinglie be blind but they that list to reede may see in that worthie Father master Latimers Sermons manie such things opened that then were preached would to God they were now reformed or not fallen to worsse and more shameful dealings without hope of amendment As for begging or buiyng good things at the Kings hand then selling the woods surueying the land to the vttermost acre or roods of land inhaunsing of rents to the highest from twentie pounds to an hundreth racking the Tenants by intollerable fines and Incomes Sine fine euerie 5. or 7. yeare commonlie laying load on them to carie and recarie whatsoeuer is to be done paying neuer a pennie for their labour ride and runne when he is commaunded c. Then turne it into the Princes hand againe get as much and vse it as ill or worsse This practise hath bene so common and declared by diuers that few can be ignorant of it and manie crie out on it at this day but remediles Yet this is not the worst if there be anie broken title of the land that maie make question in the Law or if there be anie daunger of waters or extraordinarie charges reparations c. then it is meete for the Prince by exchaunge When it is rackt to the highest and a good thing gotten in steede of it yet that the Prince shall not be thought to haue an ill bargaine he will desire to be fermer of it him selfe after the same rate to stop mens mouthes for a time As it is reason honorable and Godlie that the Prince should liberallie reward and encourage the good seruitor so is it reason againe that the Princes goodnesse nor the subiect be misused Master Latimer did freelie speake of these things not without blame as peraduenture this wil be to but would to god this had bene vsed only in the Princes state but he that will looke abroade and see shal finde the like to common in meane mens doings As for pulling downe of Townes turning tillage to pasture and turning out the tennants as Achab did to Naboth for his vineyeard that they maie haue elbow roume make them large demeans or set a shepheard and his dogg where so manie haue dwelt and that a poore man may not dwel so neere a man of worship these be so common among the meanest sort of Purchasers that men neede not to studie where to finde them Raising of Rents taking vnreasonable fines gressans is thought no faulte it is so common but some are waxen so cunning that it is straunge to thinke of A land-lord is hungrie and needes must haue fines euen of the poorest sort and because he wil be thought to deale mercifullie this waie is deuised The poore man hath no money and yet he must pay his goods and speciallie his sheepe though they be few shall be preised and according to the rate out of those goods the fine shalbe raised And that some pitie shalbe thought to be shewed the poore man shall haue his goods againe by the price to pay his fine withall and for occupying of those his owne goods he shall pay a yearlie rent or interest as it were