John Trapp on Nehemiah 6:13

Verſe 13. Therefore was he hired, that I ſhould be afraid] But they were much miſtaken in their aimes: this matter was not malleable. Nehemiah was a man of another ſpirit; of a Caleb-like ſpirit: he was fide armatus, Deo armatus, and therefore undaunted: he was full of Spiritual mettle, for he knew whom he had truſted.

And do ſo, and ſin] Nehemiah feared nothing but ſin, and the fruit thereof, ſhame and reproach; ſo great was his ſpirit, ſo right ſet were both his judgment and affections. But if any thing would have drawn him aſide from the ſtraight wayes of the Lord, baſe fear was the likelieſt: as we ſee in David at Gath, and Peter in the High-prieſts hall. See Zeph. 3.13. with the Note. Peſſimus in dubiis Augur Timer.

And that they might have matter for an evil report] This, wicked men watch for, as a Dog doth for a bone: and if they get but the leaſt hint, oh how happy do they hold themſelves! what wide mouthes do they open, &c! It is our part therefore (by a Nehemiah-like converſation) to put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men, who, like Black-moores, deſpiſe beauty; like Dogs, bark at the ſhining of the Moon. Of Luther it was ſaid by Eraſmus, Nec hoſtes reperiant quod calumnientur. Of B. Hooper it is ſaid, that his life was ſo good, that no kind of ſlander (although diverſe went about to reprove it) could faſten any fault upon him.Act. & Mon. 1366. The like is reported of Bradford, and Bucer. We ſhould ſo carry our ſelves, ut nemo de nobis malè loqui abſque mendacio poſſit, as Hierom hath it: that none might ſpeak evil of us, without a manifeſt lye.