Obrazy na stronie
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betwixt the landlord and the tenant, goeth away with the sweet from them both. For first he racks the rent and sacks the tenant so, that he is not so able to sell his things so reasonably as else he might, nor serve the prince nor his landlord as he should; nor the landlord, paying so dear for all things, is able to live as his elders did before. This undermining micher1 liveth better than they both, and taketh no pains at all for it, that they both should live on, and the one relieve the other.

Haman walked afore the court gates, to see who would reverence him, as he passed by, and who would not: poor Mardocheus, because he would not, was brought in great danger of his life, and all the Jews with him; but God, that overthroweth such courtiers, deliver us from the like, and raise us up some godly Nehemiah to favour the commonwealth and religion, as he did! The miserable end of Absalon, Haman, and such as we have seen in our days, maketh wise men to take heed how they live and behave themselves in the court: for none is so high, but by like offending of God they may have as great a fall. As this toucheth not the honest sort of courtiers, so the good ones will not be offended; and those that be guilty, God grant them to amend it!

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3. And they said. After that Nehemiah had of good will towards his people and country so diligently inquired how they did, and in what case they were, Chanani and the other Jews that came with him declared in what miserable case the people were, in hatred and despised of all people about them, and that "Jerusalem, their city where God was chiefly worshipped, lay waste and burned and unbuilt." Thus God bringeth good men together, one to comfort another; and things are not ruled by chance for both Nehemiah and these Jews lamented the miserable state of their people and country, and by their talk God provided a remedy. Nehemiah was in good state to live, and in great favour with the king; and needed not to trouble himself with the cares of his country, if God had not otherwise moved his mind to pity with talking with his countrymen. This good, then, courtiers, lawyers, and great men may have by talking with poor suitors, [Micher: pilferer. ED.]

that if there be any spark of grace in them, they will be moved with the lamentable complaint of poor suitors. Surely thou that art in authority, or hast learning, oughtest to think that the poor suitor cometh not to thee by chance: but the same God, that gave thee thy authority and learning, hath sent this poor man to thee to be relieved by thee. Look therefore upon him, hear him, as Salomon teacheth, saying, "The good man Prov. xxix. heareth the cause of the poor." Hide not thyself from him, consider his complaint, pity and help him; and not so much for money as for charity's sake; for so did good Nehemiah.

What can be a greater grief to an honest heart, than to have all things that he doeth or saith, be they never so good, to be taken in ill part; to be hated and ill spoken of by all his neighbours; to be slandered and belied, and to have displeasure where none is deserved? In this case were the miserable Jews, then the beloved people of God, though now justly cast off for their wicked hate to our Christ, the Son of the living God. Beside that, their "city was burned, the gates stood open, that enemies might rush in, murder and spoil them when they list, except they should keep a continual great watch, which was too troublesome and costly for them.

4. And it came to pass. What good cometh by hearing poor men speak, appeareth here plainly in them that fear God. For that pitiful state, which he understood his brethren the Jews and that famous city Jerusalem to be in by their report, did so move his heart and grieve him, that he "sat down, and wept certain days, was sad for them, fasted, and prayed unto the Lord of heaven" for them. Hearing and seeing be two senses, which bring into the mind of man to consider all things that be painful or pleasant to others; for except we see them or hear them, we cannot learn or understand them, much less pity them, or be glad of them. St Paul saith likewise in God's cause, "Faith cometh by Rom. x. hearing." For when thou hearest the preacher declare the glorious majesty of God, his sharp punishing of sin, the wretched estate of man, that of himself can do nothing but sin, and the everlasting pains appointed for all hard-hearted sinners; it maketh him to quake, to enter into himself, condemn himself, ask for mercy, and from thenceforth to become a new man: so when he heareth God's great mercy

declared to man in Christ, it maketh him to believe, love, obey, and follow so loving a Father. This profit then cometh by hearing the poor man's complaint, that it moveth them to pity, to tears, to fasting, and praying the Lord to relieve the misery of thy oppressed brother. Turn not therefore thy face from the poor; but hear them and pity them, as thou wouldest be heard and pitied thyself. So in religion, if thou wilt learn to fear God aright, to know thyself, amend thy life, and what blessing God hath prepared for thee, run not from the church, as many do, some for one cause, some for another, but none for good: but humble thyself in the sight of thy God and his people; hear his word reverently, believe it stedfastly, obey it diligently, pray earnestly; and God shall heap his blessings on thee plentifully.

And that we may the better understand how this miserable case of his brethren and country did touch his heart inwardly, he sheweth it by his behaviour outwardly for the affections of the mind declare themselves openly in the face and behaviour of man, when they grow great in the heart. As, if we be sorry, our countenance is heavy, sad and cloudy; if we be merry, our face hath a good colour, and sheweth itself pleasantly; when we be ashamed of ill doing, we blush; in fear we be pale, in anger high coloured and swollen in the face, &c. So this sorrow for his brethren did so pinch him at the heart, that he could not stand, but sat down; as a man's legs in heaviness are so weak that they cannot bear him his heart was so burdened, that he could not forbear, but brast out into tears; for certain days he could not be merry, eat nor drink, but fasted; and in the end found no other remedy, but turned himself unto the Lord, fell unto prayer, assuring himself that God would hear him, and relieve them in his due time, when he thought good.

By this we may learn how coldly they pray, that cannot bend nor kneel when they speak to the Lord; or if they kneel, it is but on the one knee, and that must have a soft cushion under it, and a softer under his elbow. Weep he may not, for disfiguring his face; fasting is thought hypocrisy and a shame: and when his paunch is full, then, as priests with their drunken nowls' said matins, and belked [Nowls: nolls, noddles, heads. ED.]

out, Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum3, with good devotion, as they thought; so he blusters out a few blustering words, without due consideration of them, and then he thinketh he hath prayed well. O wretched man, that forgettest thy God and thyself! Remember what thou art, a lump of earth, a sink of sin, worms' meat; and that belly which thou carest so much for, is but a stinking dunghill. Down, proud peacock! consider, when thou prayest, that thou speakest to the Lord of heaven and earth, at whose beck the devils do tremble his thunderbolts fly abroad to punish thy sin: who in his anger drowned the whole world, except eight persons; burned Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone from heaven, to pull down thy proud heart, and teach thee to fear his majesty. Learn of the poor publican, which was so ashamed of his wicked life, that he durst not look up unto heaven, but condemning himself cried, "O God, be merciful Luke xviii. unto me a sinner:" whereas the proud Pharisee stood stoutly, cracking of his holiness, as thou doest. Learn of the woman

Gen. vii.xix.

of Chanaan to be earnest in prayer: go not away from the Matt. xv. Lord, until thou feel thy conscience comforted and mercy promised: for no doubt the Lord will hear such a prayer. These outward things, as kneeling, weeping and fasting, are good helps and preparations unto prayer; as Sara continued Tobit iii. three days in fasting and prayer, that the Lord would deliver her from that shame: and so Toby maketh a general rule of it, saying, "Prayer is good, joined with fasting." Ecclesiasticus saith, "The prayer of him that humbleth him- Ecclus. self pierceth the clouds, and she will not be comforted until she come nigh, nor go her way, till the highest God have respect unto her." God grant us here to learn to pity our poor brethren, and thus to prepare ourselves to pray for them, that our prayer may be heard in their need!

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And although I noted afore the disordered life of some lewd courtiers, which make so much of their painted sheath, esteem themselves more than all the world doth besides; and when they think they deal so cunningly that they be not seen, many one espieth them, and laughs full drily in

[ The vulgate translation of Ps. xlv. 1. which our version renders, "My heart is inditing a good matter." Literally, "hath belched out." ED.]

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Gen. xli.

their sleeves at them; yet now in this godly gentleman appeareth a contrary dealing, and he may be a worthy pattern for all courtiers to follow. The court is not ill of itself, but a man, if he will, may serve the Lord uprightly, and also defend his church, and profit the commonwealth mightily; and good men may live in it honestly. It is a dangerous place, I grant, to live in, and many occasions of ill are offered daily in it; yet not so wicked, but good men living in it may take great occasions to do much good in it. Joseph in Pharao's court, a godless king, provided for all the country in the time of their great dearth and scarcity; relieved his father and brethren, then the only known church of God, in their necessity. Moses in the same Exod. xiv. court, though not under the same king, learned all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and delivered all the people from the slavery that they lived in. Abdias hid and fed a hundred prophets in caves by fifty in a company, whose lives Jesabel sought for, himself being in the wicked court of Achab and Jesabel. David feared the Lord in the court of Saul, though he escaped oft not without many great dangers. Daniel, an ancient courtier, in three kings' days kept the law of God his Lord diligently; and being in great authority with the king, had the charge of divers countries committed unto him, which he ruled faithfully, and relieved God's people mightily. So did his three companions, Sidrach, Misach, and Abednago. Mardocheus in the court of Assuerus saved the king's life, whom his chamberlains would have murdered; Esth. vi. and delivered all the Jews, which were appointed all by HaTom.i.Ep.6. man on one day to be slain. Jerome in his epistle com

1 Kings xviii.

mendeth one Nebridius, who, living in the court, and being nephew to the empress, behaved himself so virtuously, that all his suits were for the relief of the poor. The place therefore maketh no man ill, but his illness cometh of his own wicked and crooked mind. The dangerous life of courtiers, if they will rebuke sin, and not sing Placebo, the exMatt. xiv. ample of John Baptist, who lost his head for telling the truth, may suffice to teach. But let not good men be afraid:

[1 Quicquid ab Imperatore poscebat, eleemosyna in pauperes, pretium captivorum, misericordia in afflictos erat. Tom. 1. Epist. ix. Francofurt. 1684. ED.]

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