2 Cor. iv. this building of Jerusalem, that it should never be thought on If a man would describe a papist, I know not where he 2 Thess. ii. easily see who is his truly begotten son, Exod. Matt. And that look who "sitteth in the temple of God, boasting himself as God," as St Paul saith; who sitteth so deeply in ignorant men's consciences that they dare not offend him, but think him to be holiest? who taketh in hand to bestow heaven and hell and purgatory at his own pleasure, to forgive sin, and make righteous, which belong to God alone, but the pope and his chaplains? Therefore he that will not wittingly deceive himself, may easily judge whence popery cometh, and whither it leadeth us. No marvel therefore, if the papists at this day be so earnest to serve their god, the pope, and hinder the building of God's church and city, lest their kingdom, superstition, pride and authority decay. Open your eyes and see, mark the practices of superstitious idolaters from the beginning; and ye shall find them in nothing more earnest, than in hindering the true God to be worshipped as he ought. What made Pharaoh so desirous to stay the children of Israel in Egypt, but that they should not go sacrifice to the Lord, as he had appointed? Wherefore did the scribes and Pharisees so rage against Christ, but that they would not have their traditions to decay, and the true doctrine of Christ Jesus to be set up? Why did the high priests and elders whip the Acts v. apostles, and "command them to preach no more in the name of Jesus," but that they would overthrow his kingdom, if that they could? Why were so many thousand martyrs so cruelly murdered in so many ages, but that they would know no God and Saviour but only the Lord Christ? Why doth the pope and his partakers so rage at this day, as Herod did, when he heard that a new king was born, but that he seeth his kingdom and superstition overthrown by the preaching of the gospel? And as it falleth out thus generally in the building of God's spiritual house and city, that all sorts of enemies most diligently apply themselves, their labour, wit, power, policy and friendship to overthrow the true worship of God; so particularly "Satan goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour," and therefore every man hath great need to be wary and circumspect, that he be not suddenly overthrown; but let him watch and "put on all the armour of God," which St Paul describeth, saying, "For this cause Eph. vi. take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day, and having finished all things, stand fast stand therefore, and your loins girt about with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, &c." that he may stand stoutly in the day of battle, and through the might of his God get the victory. The devil never ceaseth; for if he cannot overthrow the whole church, yet he would be glad to catch any one that belongeth to the Lord, if he could. v. 12. And it came to pass, when the Jews which dwelt be- The Text. side them came and told us of their practices ten times out of all places whence they came unto us, 13. I set in the low places beyond the wall, and in the high places also I set the people according to their 14. And when I saw them, I rose and said to the nobles, and to the officers, and the rest of the people, Be not XV. your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses. 15. And it came to pass, when our enemies heard tell that it was told us, God disappointed their purpose, and all we returned unto the walls, every man to his work. This comfort our loving God hath left to his chosen people, that as the devil ceaseth not by his members to trouble and vex his church and beloved children by all means that he can devise, so the mighty Lord of his own free goodness, by his Holy Spirit, his angels, his creatures all, and most sensibly by the comfort that one good man giveth another, in all our griefs faileth not to aid and comfort us, night and day, privily and openly, that ever we may have just cause to rejoice in him for our deliverance, and not in ourselves. These wicked Samaritans, Sanballat, Tobias, and their fellows, were not so cunning privily to prepare men and armour suddenly to invade Jerusalem unlooked for, to murder the builders and shed innocent blood, but the living Lord, to glorify himself in opening their subtle practices, which they thought had been kept close from all men, by other of the Jews which dwelt among them, in Samaria, Arabia, and other places, doth bewray their conspiracy, and maketh it known in Jerusalem often times out of all corners of the country. Thus it proveth true, that the gospel saith, "Nothing is hid but it shall be openly known," be it never so craftily devised: nothing can be so privily devised to hurt the man of God, but the wisdom of our God doth foresee it, his merciful goodness doth open it, and his mighty hand doth so rule it, that it overwhelmeth us not. God increase our faith, and help our unbelief, that in all dangers we may humbly submit ourselves unto him, and without grudging or doubting boldly look for his help in due time, and patiently tarry his leisure: for no doubt he will help them that faithfully look for and earnestly beg his aid. King Saul purposed divers times suddenly to have slain poor David; but God opened his mischievous mind and ma 2 Sam. xviii. lice by Jonathan his son and Michal his daughter, and David was delivered. The king's chamberlains had privily conspired to have murdered Assuerus, their king and master; but Mar- Esth. vi. docheus openeth his treason, and the king was saved. Benhadad, the king of Syria, made war against Joram, king of Israel, and by counsel of his servants laid ambushments privily to trap Joram, the king of Israel, by the way; but Eliseus the prophet, perceiving that Joram would go the way where the ambush was laid in wait for him, gave the king warning, and bade him go another way: when Benhadad heard tell that his secret purpose and counsel was known to Joram, and he came not that way, he was angry with his servants, and said they had betrayed and opened his counsel to Joram. 66 Nay," saith one of his servants, "there is a 2 Kings vi. prophet in Israel, Eliseus, and he openeth whatsoever thou speakest in thy privy chamber." King Herod minding subtilly Matt. ii. to kill the young babe, Christ Jesus, craftily bade the wise men go and learn "where the new king was born, and he would come and worship him," as well as they did: but the gracious God, which never faileth at need, bade them go another way, and not tell Herod; for he meant to kill the young babe Christ. The wicked Jews made 66 a vow, they would nei- Acts xxiii. ther eat nor drink until they had killed Paul:" but Paul's sister's son, when he heard their conspiracy, opened it, and the captains set soldiers to defend him, and deliver him out of their hands. I cannot tell, whether these Jews which dwell abroad in divers countries, and came and told them in Jerusalem of the conspiracy that was intended against them by Sanballat and his fellows, be worthy more praise or dispraise. It was their duty to have come home, stood in storms, and help to build Jerusalem, as well as these other their fellows did: but God, which turneth our negligence and foolishness to the setting forth of his immortal goodness and wisdom, gave them a good will and boldness to further that building as they might, and stirred them up to come often times, and open unto them in Jerusalem the great conspiracy that was intended against them; that they might be ready to defend themselves whensoever they were assaulted. It grieved them to understand the mischief that was purposed, both to have their brethren's blood cruelly shed, and also that building to be overthrown; and though they durst not come and join with them both in battle and working, yet they are to be commended that they so pitied their brethren and the work, that they gave warning of that great conspiracy purposed against them. Thus God useth the service of all men and creatures to the benefit and comfort of those that fear him truly. So among wicked people many times do good men dwell, both to bring them from their wickedness by their good example and counsel, and also to be a relief to other good men abroad in other places, when occasion shall serve. Thus was Lot in Sodom, Joseph in Pharao's house, and Daniel in Babylon; and if these Jews had not dwelt abroad among the Samaritans and Arabians, this conspiracy had not been opened to the builders in Jerusalem; but they should have been suddenly slain, afore they knew of their coming. Thus is God's providence and care for his people, when they understand not their own danger, to be praised; and this natural love, that these Jews bare to their country and brethren, in forewarning them to defend themselves, is to be followed of all good men. Demaratus of Lacedemon was unjustly banished his country: yet when he heard that the Athenians' would make war against his country, he gave his countrymen warning of it, that they might be in a readiness to defend themselves. When the Israelites Exod. xxxii. had made the golden calf, and God in his anger would have destroyed them, Moses falleth to prayer, though they oft rebelled against him, and desireth the Lord to pardon them, or else to put him out of his book. St Paul wisheth "to be accursed from Christ," so that he might win his brethren the Jews to the Lord Christ, though they oft sought his death. Rom. ix. be Thus good men will forget displeasures done unto them, and be ready always to help and comfort their country, and specially those that be of the household of faith. This may a comfort to all good men, that as God opened this conspiracy to his people at this time by the Jews that dwelt far from them, so his fatherly care never faileth them that love him, but he will defend and deliver them: for he maketh his enemies, if they be made privy of any such mischief, so babbling that they will open it, either for vain glory, bribery, malice, or else their own consciences do accuse them, that they cannot quietly suffer such a mischief to be wrought. And although they were [The Persians. See Herodotus, VII. 239. ED.] |