John Trapp on Nehemiah 5:15

Verſe 15. But the former Governours] Thoſe that had been betwixt Zorobabel and Nehemiah: Ezra was no Governour. Theſe had been ſtrict in exacting their five pounds a day; or, for the head of every family, ſo much; beſides bread for neceſſity, and wine for delight. Not ſo Nehemiah, he would not uſe his power to over-burden thoſe poore whom theſe Uſurers oppreſſed. This he here inſtanceth for their further conviction.

Yea, even their ſervants bear rule over the people] Exacting what they pleaſe of them: this their maſters ſhould have ſeene to, and not ſuffered for the ſervants ſinne is the maſters reproach. When Charles the fifth reſolved to lay down the Empire, ſome of his Courtiers and Counſellours adviſed him to retaine ſtill the name and authority of Emperour, and to govern the Kingdome by his under-officers. His anſwer to them was, Ah, me praeſente ita res adminiſtratis, &c. Alas, now that I am amongſt you, things are ſo ill carried, that ye are complained of by all: what then would you do, if I ſhould not have an eye upon you? Val. Max. Chriſt. p. 197. and how would you domineere like ſo many Sultans (the word here uſed) and follow the adminiſtration of Juſtice as a trade only, with an unquenchable and unconſcionable deſire of gaine?

But ſo did not I, becauſe of the fear of God] The beſt retentive from ſinne certainly; a ſpur to good, a curb from evil. Hence David calleth it a cleane feare, Pſal. 19.9. and the fear of the Lord is, to depart from evil, ſaith Solomon. And Ariſtotle hath this Probleme, Why are men credited more then other creatures? The anſwer is, [non-Latin text not transcribed], becauſe man alone holdeth and feareth God: therefore you may truſt him. But where this fear is not, no good is to be expected, but the contrary, Gen. 20.11. See the Note on verſe 9.