John Trapp on Nehemiah 6:11

Verſe 11. And I ſaid, ſhould ſuch a man as I flie?] To the diſhonour of God, and the diſcouraging of the people? to the ſcandal of the weak, and the ſcorn of the wicked? Et Turnum fugientem haec terra videbit? There is a [non-Latin text not transcribed], a comelineſſe, a ſeemlineſſe, a ſuitableneſſe appertains to every calling and condition of life: and Nature hath taught Heathens themſelves to argue from dignity to duty, and to ſcorn to do any thing unworthy of themſelves. Scipio, when an harlot was offered him anſwered, Vellem, ſi non eſſem Imperator, I would, were I not a General. Antigonus being invited to a Feaſt where a notable harlot was to be preſent, asked counſel of Menedemus, what he ſhould do? No more but this, ſaid he, Remember that thou art a Kings ſon. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Themiſtocles once, after a Victory, viewing the ſpoiles and pillage of the field, ſaid to his friend that bare him company, Take thou theſe rich ſpoiles to thy ſelf: for thou are not Themiſtocles: it is below me to ſtoop to them. When Pompey had Caeſar and Anthony in a Ship together, it was ſuggeſted to him by Metrodorus, to revenge himſelf for the death of his Father and Brother. To whom he replyed, that ſo to do, might haply befit Metrodorus, but in no wiſe Pompey. It is not for you to be fiſhing for Gudgeons, but for Towns, Forts, and Caſtles, ſaid Cleopatra to M. Antony. It is not for Gods Saints to walk as men: ſith they are children of the Kingdome, and muſt therefore regnum in pectore gerere, carry themſelves accordingly. We uſually ſay, ſuch a man underſtands himſelf well: that is, he knowes his place, his dignity, and walks accordingly. It is a puſillanimity to do otherwiſe; Nehemiah will never do it, to dye for it.

And now is there, that being as I am] So greatly beloved of God, Dan. 9.23. ſo highly favoured of the King, chap. 2.2, 4. ſo protected hitherto, ſo proſpered, ſo entruſted with the government and ſafety of this people, more dear to me then my very life.

Would go into the Temple] As a Malefactour to take Sanctuary there; or as a Coward to ſave mine own life with the loſſe of the lives of many of the precious ſonnes of life. Zion.

I will not go in] The Heavens ſhall ſooner fall then I will forſake the Truth, Will. Flower. Act. & Mon. 1430. In Epiſt. ſaid that Martyr. Omnia de me praeſumas praeter fugam & palinodiam, ſaid Luther to Staupicius, Ile rather dye, then flye: burn them turn. Latimer was wondrous bold and ſtout in his dealing with Henry the eighth, both before and after he was a Biſhop. So were Athanaſius, Ambroſe, Baſil; the primitive Confeſſours. This courage in Chriſtians the Heathen perſecutours called Obſtinacy, and not faith. Sed pro hac obſtinatione fidei morimur, ſaith Tertullian in his Apology, For this obſtinacy of faith we gladly dye: neither can we dye otherwiſe; for the love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. Life in Gods diſpleaſure is worſe then death: as death; in his true favour, is true life: as Bradford told Gardiner.