Nehemiah 4

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IV.—God’s faithful builders are sure to have a share of the world’s ridicule and contempt; and one wicked man encourages another. But, though scoffers make their bands strong, God will shortly cover them with shame and confusion. Let saints then never discompose their souls on account of the most bitter or insolent contempt: God observes it, and will quickly resent it. Let them in patience possess their souls, commit their way to God, and go on more briskly with their Christian work. God’s blessing will more than compensate men’s ravilings. And much may be done in a little time if all be hearty in lending their assistance. What a pity then is it that the people of God should scarcely ever be as harmonious and active in the Lord’s work as the wicked are in their opposition to it! Nay, his more active servants have often as much trouble with the fears of their friends as with the terrors of their enemies. And false friends are more dangerous than open enemies. But, be the plots of enemies ever so well laid, or ever so secret, God can discover or defeat them. Let then his infinite power and unbounded goodness encourage us to go on with our work, notwithstanding all the craft and malice of our adversaries. In all our spiritual work, all our attempts of reformation, let us put on the whole armour of God, and watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation. Let us, in our respective stations, unanimously unite with heart and hand against the common enemy; and count neither ease nor life dear unto us, that we may finish our course with joy. Religion bids fair to prosper when the professors thereof make earnest work of it, and endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ