John Trapp on Nehemiah 6:3

Verſe 3. And I ſent Meſſengers unto them] He went not, but ſent. This was to be wiſe as a Serpent, Matth. 10.17. God calleth us not to a weak ſimplicity; but alloweth us as much of the Serpent as of the Dove, and telleth us; that a Serpents eye in a Doves head, is a ſingular accompliſhment. Beware of men, ver. 18. bruitiſh perſons skilful to deſtroy, Ezek. 21.31. Bleſſe your ſelves from Machiavellians (thoſe matchleſſe villanies) and pray with David to be delivered from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue, Pſal. 120.2. The Cardinal of Loraine (the chief Engineer of the French Maſſacre) ſent to Chriſtopher Duke of Wirtsberg (a prudent and a valiant Prince) that he and his brethren the Guiſes would embrace the Proteſtant Religion, and deſired to be enrolled in the number of the Proteſtant Princes: but they knew him too well, to truſt him.

I am doing a great work, ſo that I cannot come down] I cannot intend it, as having my hands more full of employment, then that I can give heed to your complements. There is a curſe to him that doth the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully. And Lata negligentia dolus eſt, ſaith the Civilian; Remiſneſſe is a kind of perfidiouſneſſe.

Why ſhould the work ceaſe?] As it would, or at leaſt go but ſlowly on in his abſence: he was [non-Latin text not transcribed] the driver on of the buſineſſe: as was likewiſe Boaz, Ruth. 2.3. who therefore followed it ſo cloſe himſelf: his eyes were upon the Servants, reapers, gleaners: he lodgeth in the middeſt of his husbandry. Let the Tempter ever find us buſie, and he will depart diſcouraged, as Cupid is ſaid to do from the Muſes, whom he could never take idle. Standing water ſoon ſtinketh, empty ſtomacks draw the humour that is next it: ſo doth the idle heart, evil motions. An induſtrious Nehemiah is not at leaſure to parle with Sanballat: leſt if he let any water go beſide the Mill, he ſhould be a great loſer by it. His employment is as a guard, or good Angel, to keep him both right, and ſafe.