Nehemiah 6

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VI.—O the infernal subtlety and restlessness of Satan and his agents; and the need of heavenly wisdom and steady circumspection for resisting all their ensnaring and repeated solicitations! But business of consequence ought always to be preferred to matters of civility and compliment. It is common for the church’s enemies to pretend friendship in order to ruin her; and no less so to represent her faithful ministers and members as traitors to government. But no lies, or malevolent reports, should weaken our hands from the work of God. They who have almighty power engaged for them may look up to God and be comforted. He will uphold them; and, the more the enemies rage, the more shall Jehovah’s strength be perfected in our weakness. Yes, they shall go to their grief that he cares for his people, and that when he works none can hinder it. However great the opposition, and weak the instruments, he can speedily effect his work. And much good may be done in a short time if people are hearty in it, and have a good God and a pious man at the head of it. But a most dangerous plague are pretended and unfaithful unmish, treacherous magistrates, and villainous professors. The treachery of pretended friends is more to be feared than the unfree of open enemies. And happy are those who, directed and encouraged of God, escape being ensnared in their nets. But for this we must walk circumspectly, and try the spirits; and be ready to risk every danger, rather than injure the cause of God, or even bring a reproach on our holy character or office. God marks the iniquities of his enemies, and will turn their deep-laid schemes against his people to their own confusion. Nor shall these, who have ensnared themselves by sinful connoctions, or who assist them in their purposes, long escape the judgment, which hingereth not