John Trapp on Nehemiah 1:9

Verſe 9. But if ye returne unto me] By ſinne men do wickedly depart from God: as by Repentance, they return unto him, and cloſe with him.

And keep my Commandments] Evangelically keep them: for with a legal obedience none can: our ſhort legges and purſie hearts cannot hold out here.

And do them] Or at leaſt, be doing at them, do them as we can: ſi praecepta faciamus, etiamſi non perficiamus, ſufficit.

To the uttermoſt part of heaven] That is of the earth, which ſeemes to our eye terminated with the heaven, and covered as with an half-globe. Jewes are a diſ-jected people to this preſent: and a fearful inſtance of Gods heavy indignation againſt ſinne. Joſephus ſaith that in his time, they were grown ſo wicked, that if the Romans had not deſtroyed and diſperſed them; without doubt either the earth would have ſwallowed them up, or fire from heaven have conſumed them.

Yet will I gather them from thence] Elſe not: Gods promiſes are with a condition, which is as an Oare in a Boat, and ſterne of a ſhip; and turnes the promiſe another way.