B.C. 445. the craft of the enemy a 1 Ch. viii. 12. b Vandevelde. c Ps. xxxvii. 12, 32; Pr. xxvi. 24, 25. v. 3. A. Fuller, 695. "The deceitful smiles of the world generally form our first temptation in the path of duty. But if we steadily withstand them and will not be we CHAPTER THE SIXTHI. 1-4. (1) Sanballat, etc., see ii. 19, iv. 7. no breach, no part left unbuilded. though.. gates, the gate-houses were built, but the gates themselves were not hung. (2) Ono, nr. Lydda. Perh. at Kefr-Auna, ab. 8 ms. E. of Jaffa, and 6 ms. N. of Lydda. They tried to accomplish by deceit what they failed to effect by threats and opposition. but.. mischief, Neh. is astute enough to see through the proposition. (3) sent, instead of going as they desired. I.. work, they could not propose a greater or better. So.. down, to leave a great religious duty is a moral coming down. why.. cease, he courteously assumes that the only evil that would result fr. his accepting the invitation would be the retarding of the work. (4) sent.. sort, to show their earnestness. Nehemiah's firmness.-How he baffled the attempts of his enemies we are told in the passage now before us. From whence I shall take occasion to show-I. What efforts men will diverted from our work, make to divert us from the service of God; and, as in the instance must prepare before us, those enemies will endeavour to prevail-1. By artifice; for reproaches, 2. By intimidation; 3. By ridicule. But in the example of this paces, from the holy man we see-II. In what manner we should withstand same quarter."- them. Two things in particular I would notice. 1. His wisdom; 2. His firmness. Let us learn from hence-(1) What we are to expect if we will serve God; (2) How we must act if we would approve ourselves to Him. slanders,and me Scott. "It has been a sort of maxim that the greatest art is to conceal art; but I know not how, among and vice; there The Arabs of modern Palestine.—This interesting question is discussed by Mrs. Finn, in the Sunday at Home, and she has brought together a large amount of evidence which tends to prove that these are the descendants of the nations (or at least a part) which were the aborigines of Palestine, at the time of the Exodus. Their history, under the various names of Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites Jebusites, and Amorites, is clearly traceable in the Old Testament narrative down to the time of Nehemiah and Ezra. Subsequent events rather favoured their increase, than tended to their extermination; they were a trouble to the Israelites in the time of the Maccabees, as we read. So that, even in the days of our Lord, the rural population of Palestine was largely Canaanitish and heathen. The fall of Jerusalem, and the severities inflicted upon the Jews, produced no ill effects upon the Canaanites, and in after years the distinctions between the different races or tribes were lost or overlooked, and they became known by the general name of "Syrians." On their present state, Mrs. Finn remarks:-"Though the language and religion of the Arabs are found in Palestine, their Mohammedanism is but nominal. The people are grossly ignorant of question shows the Koran and its tenets; they practise their old customs, short his character: only of actual idolatry. That they are not Arabs, as the Bedaween I can give up are Arabs, is certain. They differ from them physically, as well retire from as in speech and in most of their habits. That these fellaheen power; I can had lived in the land from remote antiquity will scarcely be quit my palace, doubted by any one familiar with their manners and customs. and live in a It is also a fact that the peasantry are divided into separate cottage; I can lay my head on clans, very distinct from each other, very commonly at feud gence where it may not, and perhaps ought not to be supplied by prudence."--Bruyère. "George III. was a man of firm mind. His speech on the Roman Catholic my crown, and with each other, and that these clans may well be fragments of older and distinct nations." A moderate amount of careful research, as Mrs. Finn shows, can scarcely fail to throw light upon the subject, and we may hope that both residents in, and visitors to, the Holy Land will keep the matter in view. 66 5-7. (5) fifth.. letter, the previous had been private communications. This is of the nature of a threat. open, that all might read it. (6) reported, heathen, and the more likely to be false, bec. reported fr. such quarter. Gashmu, or Geshem. that.. rebel.. king, and yet Sanballat, who insinuates the charge, wished, so he averred, to be friendly with the rebel. (7) appointed.. Judah," see 14, not unusual for the wicked to charge on others sins of wh. they are guilty. it.. words, though it be only a report, the truth of wh. was not proven. Letters in the East.-Norden tells us that when he and his company were at Essauen an express arrived there, despatched by an Arab prince, who brought a letter directed to the reys, or master of their barque, enjoining him not to set out with his barque, or carry them any farther, adding that in a day's time he should be at Essauen and there would give his orders relative to them. "The letter, however, according to the usage of the Turks," says this author, was open; and as the reys was not on board, the pilot carried it to one of our fathers to read it." Sanballat's sending his servant, then, with an open letter, which is mentioned in Neh. vi. 5, doth not appear an odd thing, it should seem; but if it was according to their usages, why is this circumstance complained of, as it visibly is? Why, indeed, is it mentioned at all? Why! because, however the sending letters open to common people may be customary in these countries, it is not according to their usages to send them so to people of distinction. So Dr. Pocock, in his account of that very country where Norden was when this letter was brought, gives us, among other things, in the 57th plate, the figure of a Turkish letter put into a satin bag, to be sent to a great man, with a paper tied to it, directed and sealed, and an ivory button tied on the wax. So, Lady Montague says, the bassa of Belgrade's answer to the English ambassador, going to Constantinople, was brought to him in a purse of scarlet satin.-Zeal in religious enterprise.A baronet was one day examining some works of the celebrated sculptor, Mr. Bacon, and observed a bust of Mr. Whitefield among them, which led him to remark, "After all that has been said, this was truly a great man he was the founder of a new religion." "A new religion, sir!" replied Mr. B. "Yes," said the baronet; "what do you call it?" Nothing," was the reply, "but the old religion revived with new energy, and treated as if the preacher meant what he said." 66 8, 9. (8) there.. heart, a bold, honest, straightforward answer. (9) they.. afraid, tried to do so; Neh. was not frightened. now.. hands, prayer was his common resource, and God his constant helper. The toiler's prayer.-"Strengthen my hands." I. Consider how many things tend to weaken them-as the increasing claims of home, as the growing infirmities of age, as the fluctuations in trade and labour's reward. II. The source of the workman's strength. Not strikes; but God. III. How God strengthens Nehemiah's bold reply "It is common for that which is the sense only of the malicious, to be falsely represented by them as the sense of the many. "-M. Henry. B.C. 4-15. "False praise can please, and calumny affright none but the vicious and the Horace. a F.W. Robertson. "Be thou as chaste as ice, as "The slanderer does harm to three persons at once: to him of whom he says the workman's hands. By providentially introducing inventions; by increasing skill; by raising up helpers; by restoring health; by infusing cheerfulness into the mind; by granting success. The evils of calumny.-It is like the Greek fire used in ancient hypocrite." Warfare, which burnt unquenched beneath the water; or like the weeds, which, when you have extirpated them in one place, are sprouting forth vigorously in another spot, at the distance of many hundred yards; or, to use the metaphor of St. James, it is like the wheel which catches fire as it goes, and burns with fierce conflagration as its own speed increases: "It sets on fire the whole course of nature (literally the wheel of nature)." Mistakes of calumniators illustrated.-A lawyer, who was someShake- times forgetful, having been engaged to plead the cause of an offender, began by saying: "I know the prisoner at the bar, and he bears the character of being a most consummate and impudent scoundrel· Here somebody whispered to him that the prisoner was his client, when he immediately continued: "But what great and good man ever lived who was not calumniated by many of his contemporaries?" Gustavus Adolphus.--Of all the virtues which united in the character of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, that which crowned the whole was his exemplary piety. The following fact is related of him when he was once in his camp before Werben. He had been alone in the cabinet of his pavilion for some hours, and none of his attendants at these seasons were allowed to interrupt him. At length, however, a favourite of his, having some important matter to tell him, came softly to the door, and, looking in, beheld the king very devoutly on his knees at prayer. Fearing to molest him in that exercise, he was about to withdraw, when the king saw him, and bidding him to come in, said, "Thou wonderest to see me in this posture, since I have so many thousands of subjects to pray for me; but I tell thee that no man has more need to pray for himself than he who, having to render an account of his actions to none but God, is for that reason more closely assaulted by the devil than all other men besides." the ill, to him to whori he says it, and, most of all, saying it."- St. to himself in Basil. "I never listen to not worth think- the craft of Shemaiah a Ez. xiii. 22; Ps. lvi. 2, 3. 14. Ps. lxii. 4; Ez. 10-14. (10) Shemaiah (Jehovah heareth him), a bad man with a good name; a common name, for there are 20 ref. to in Scripture who bore it. who.. up, pretending to be a prisoner of Sanballat through his friendship for Neh. let.. temple, as if the place would prove his sincerity, or sanctify the deed. yea.. xii. 17; 2 Ti. iv. thee, this might have resulted in the assassination of Neh. (11) should.. flee, etc., he who is doing God's work by a special call may expect to be kept in safety without neglecting his work to will be called save his life. (12) perceived,a by reflection, or discovery of obstinacy; our the plot. (13) therefore, for this reason. afraid, for my life. rashness; and.. sin, appear to be in a plot with the king's enemies. (14) and our activity my.. works, Neh. commended the whole case to the direction we shall be of God. 4. Our firmness zeal ambition: nay, Christian firmness.-I will take occasion from this particular occurrence to set before you-I. The subtlety with which our great adversary will assault us. He will propose to us-1. To neglect our social duties, with a view to the furtherance of our spiritual welfare; 2. To conform to the world with a view to conciliate their regard; 3. To use undue means with a view to the attainment of some desirable end. II. The firmness with which we should resist him. We should set the Lord ever before us, bearing in mind-1. Our relation to Him; 2. Our obligation to Him; 3. Our expectations from Him; 4. The interest which God Himself has in the whole of our conduct. Learn-(1) To expect temptation; (2) To place your entire confidence in God in every circumstance.c Should such a man as I am flee?-Cyprian, when on his way to suffer martyrdom, was told by the Emperor that he would give him time to consider whether he had not better cast a grain of incense into the fire, in honour of idols, than die so degraded a death. The martyr nobly answered, "There needs no deliberation in the case." John Huss, when at the stake, about to suffer for his attachment to Christ, was offered pardon if he would recant. His reply was, "I am here to suffer death." Ann Askew, when asked, under similar circumstances, to avoid the flames, answered, "I came not here to deny my Lord and Master." Mr. Thomas Hawkes, an Essex gentleman, said on a like occasion, "If I had a hundred bodies, I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces rather than recant."-A West Indian negro.-Two persons connected with Mr. Burchell's congregation at Montego Bay, Jamaica, had their houses levelled with the ground, their feet made fast in the stocks, and were sent in chains to the workhouse, charged with the heinous offence of praying to the God of heaven! One of these, however, they were absolutely obliged to give up in despair. Having nothing to do besides in the gaol, he spent his time, morning, noon, and night, singing and calling upon God; which so annoyed the gaoler, that he repeatedly went into his cell and flogged him. But the more flogging, the more praying; till at length the gaoler again brought him before the court for this offence. The poor man, however, resolutely declared his purpose to pray. "If you let me go," said he, "me will pray; if you keep me in prison, me will pray; if you flog me, me will pray; pray me must, and pray me will!" The gaoler was fairly confounded; and rather than be annoyed any longer by this "praying fellow," he gave up his fees, and a part of the fine was remitted; and so the man was dismissed, to " go and pray elsewhere." קיי 15-19. (15) Elul, the sixth mo. in.. days, one of the most extraordinary instances of rapid building on record. (16) they.. eyes, this wd. be often the case if the Ch. were faithful and diligent. they.. God, so great a work, done so soon, with such small resources, under such great opposition. (17) nobles. them, those hindered who should have been the most earnest helpers. (18) Shecaniah, Ezr. ii. 5. Hence their correspondence was plausible. (19) reported.. me, they tried to annoy him with praise of his enemies. and.. him," revealed his plans and purposes to the foe. and.. fear, wh., armed with private information, he thought he could do. The expedition with which the wall of Jerusalem was built.It will be profitable to inquire-I. How it was completed in so short a time. We find that the means whereby this great work was accomplished were-1. The wisdom and energy of the governor; 2. The union and perseverance of the people; 3. The peculiar blessing of their God. Having thus traced Nehemiah's success to its true cause, we proceed to set before you-II. The great lesson which we are to learn from it. Behold, B.C. 445. in his calendar by religious exercises, and every action in his life by holy reference and designments; for let him make what haste he can to be wise, Time will outrun him."-J. Norris. "God's work may be done, well done, and successfully, and yet different methods taken in doing it: which is a good reason then, in what way we are all to engage in the work of the Lord. 66 The The power of diligence. In summing up the character of a man like William Carey, due prominence should be given to his extraordinary diligence. Even the grammars he composed are too numerous for mentioning separately; and his Bengali lexicon fills three bulky quartos. When we add to these his many translations we have a sum of work such as only few are able to crowd into the fleeting days of mortal existence. Extremely frugal in diet, his tastes were refined, and next to philology his predilections tended towards the attractions of tropical nature, in whose delightful domains he continually found new allurements. While labouring so abundantly in teaching and translating, his luxuriant garden surpassed in rich completeness the most famous botanical collections of the empire. To what did he owe his amazing success? Being far too sensible a man not to know where lay his strength, he also knew his weaker points, but like all great why we should minds, subjected by grace, he was extremely modest. "I can neither arraign plod," he himself testified; "to this I owe everything. others' manage- plodder is the man who will rise to respect and eminence, and ment, nor make should he live sufficiently long to effect his designs, he will make the world his insolvent debtor."-Diligence and labour.-Cessator is not chargeable with being buried in the cares and business of this present life to the neglect of the one thing needful; but he greatly neglects the duties of his station. Had he been sent into the world only to read, pray, hear sermons, and join in religious conversation, he might pass for an eminent Christian. But though it is to be hoped that his abounding in these exercises springs from a heart-attachment to Divine things, his conduct evidences that his judgment is weak, and his views of his Christian calling are very narrow and defective. He does not consider, that waiting upon God in the public and private ordinances is designed not to excuse us from the discharge of the duties of civil life but to instruct, strengthen, and qualify us for their performance. His affairs are in disorder, and his family and connections are likely to suffer by his indolence. He thanks God that he is not worldly-minded; but he is an idle and unfaithful member of society, and causes the way of truth to be evil spoken of. Such the Apostle has determined, that "if any man will not work, neither should he eat."a our Own standard."-M. Henry. A listless youth approached some fishermen, expressing a of fish. An old fisherman advised him to cast a line for himand soon found his wish grati wish for a basket self. He did so, fied. "Idleness travels very slowly, and poverty soon overtakes her." -Hunter. d J. Newton B.C. cir. 445. the gates are set up b Neh. x. 1, 23. c Ex. xviii. 21. CHAPTER THE SEVENTH. 1-4. (1) set.. doors, left to the last, see vi. 1. porters, of the temp.a (2) gave.. Hanani,' i. 2. palace, fortress, a 1 Ch. ix. 17, 27. ii. 8. charge, over the gates, etc. feared..many, a good qualification for office. One who feared God would be just towards man. (3) until.. hot, the day well begun, and light. while. . by, etc., Hanani and Hananiah were personally to "One reason superintend the opening and closing of the doors. every. the Jews (who house, guarding his house, he wd. also guard the city. originally true of spiritual matters also. (4) city.. great, Heb. broad pastoral, and in spaces. but.. builded, hence needed the more careful why the bulk of were lovers of agri culture) might watching. This rather choose to Closing the gates of Jerusalem.-In the hot countries of the |