John Trapp on Nehemiah 5:9

Verſe 9. Alſo I ſaid, It is not good that you do] No oratory is ſo powerful, as that of mildneſſe. The drops that fall eaſily upon the corne, ripen and fill the eare; when haſty ſhowers lay all flat to the earth, without hope of recovery. Gregory hath obſerved, that they that could not be cured with ſtrong potions, have been recovered with warme water. Reprovers of others muſt deal warily; as bone-ſetters: and as we take a mote out of ones eye.

Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God?] Which would have reynd you in, and reſtrained you from ſuch exorbitancies, Gen. 42.18. You need not fear me, ſaid Joſeph to his brethren, for I fear God, and therefore dare do you no hurt. Ye ſhall not oppreſſe one another; but thou ſhalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God, Levit. 25.17.Jer. 5.22. Pſal. 114.7. And will ye not tremble at my preſence, ſaith the Lord? Tremble thou earth at the preſence of the Lord, at the preſence of the God of Jacob. Oppreſſours are called Canaanites, Hoſ. 12.7. He is Canaan (that is a meer natural man, utterly void of Gods holy fear, Ezek. 16.3.) the ballances of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to oppreſſe. To him that is afflicted, pity ſhould be ſhewed from his friend (as it ſhould have been to theſe poor Jews from their hard-hearted Countreymen and kinſmen) but he forſaketh the fear of the Almighty, and is therefore mercileſſe.

Becauſe of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies] Who watch for our halting more earneſtly then a dog doth for a bone, and will be glad of any occaſion to ſpeak evil of us and of our Religion; with, Theſe are your Profeſſours, &c. You ſee what Tyrants and Tigers they are one to another. Hereby the banks of blaſphemy will be broken down in them, to ſpeak evil with open mouth of the Name of God; And will ye trample upon that dear and dread Name?