John Trapp on Nehemiah 2:17

Verſe 17. Then ſaid I unto them] Then when I ſaw it a fit ſeaſon to ſay it. It is an excellent skill to time a word, Iſa. 50.4. To circumſtantiate it aright, Prov. 25.11. That it may run as upon wheels: Nehemiah's words do ſo, notably. Verba priùs ad limam revocata, quàm ad linguam, words well weighed ere uttered. Neſcit poenitenda loqui qui proferenda priùs ſuo tradidit examini; He cannot but ſpeak wiſely, who ſpeaketh warily.

Jeruſalem lyeth waſt] Id eſt, open to the ſpoyler: as the Pope made account this Land was in Henry the eighth his time, when he had given it primo ocoupaturo, to him that ſhould firſt invade and ſeize it.

Come and let us build, &c.] With forces united, with one ſhoulder, Multorum manibus grande levatur onus.

That we be no more a reproach] Quàm multa quàm paucis! How much in a little! ſaid Tully of Brutus his Laconical Epiſtle: and the like may we ſay of this pithy and pathetike ſpeech. Thoſe that love to hear themſelves talk, (ſaith a reverend Man upon this Text) and with many words to colour their ill meaning, may here learn how a ſimple ttuth plainly told in few words,B. Pilkington. worketh more in good mens hearts, then a painted tale, that hath little truth, and leſſe good meaning in it. An honeſt matter ſpeaketh for it ſelf, and needeth no colouring: and he that uſeth moſt flattering and ſubtle words maketh wiſe men miſtruſt the matter to be ill. A few words well placed are much better then a long unſavoury tale. Thus he.