John Trapp on Nehemiah 7:2

Verſe 2. That I gave my brother Hanani] Of whom ſee chap. 1.2. Ezra 10. ver. 20.

And Hananiah the Ruler of the palace] The ſecond perſon next to the Governour: commanding in his Name within his Court.

Charge over Jeruſalem] Thus he that is faithful in a little, ſhall be made Maſter of much, Matth. 25.31.

For he was a faithful man] Heb. A man of Truth, Faithfulneſſe, or Firmeneſſe; a ſure man, and ſuch as one might ſafely confide in.

And feared God] No wonder therefore though faithful to men, See chap. 5.15. Gods holy fear is the ground of all goodneſſe and fidelity. Hence Jethro, in his well-qualified Ruler, places the fear of God in the middeſt of the other graces, as the heart in the body, for conveying life to all the parts, or as a dram of Musk, perfuming the whole box of ointment, Exod. 18.21. Moſt ſure it is, that nothing maketh a man ſo good a Patriot, as the true fear of God: On the other ſide, Pietate ſublatâ fides tollitur, take away Piety, and Fidelity is gone: as is to be ſeen in the unrighteous Judge, Luk. 18. ver. 2. and as Conſtantius Chlorus, father of Conſtantine the Great, did well experience in his Counſellours and Courtiers, whence that famous Maxime of his recorded by Euſebius, He cannot be faithful to me, that is unfaithful to God, Religion being the foundation of all true fidelity and loyalty to King and Countrey.1 Pet 2. Hence that cloſe connexion, Fear God, Honour the King. And hence that ſaying of Bernard, If all the World ſhould conſpire to make me complot againſt my Prince; yet I would fear God, and honour the King.

Above many] This is a ſingular praiſe, and by every man to be ſought after: ('twas Cicero's poſy and practiſe, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. to be the beſt at every good thing, to excel and exceed others) to be eminent and exemplary, taller then the reſt by the head and ſhoulders full of all goodneſſe, filled with all knowledge, Rom. 15.14, able and active in every good word and work. That's a low and unworthy ſtrain in ſome to labour after no more grace then will keep life & ſoul together, that is, ſoul and hell aſunder. God would have his people to be diſcontentedly contented with the meaſures they have received, and to be ſtill adding, 2 Pet. 1.5. and advancing, Philip. 3.14. aſpiring to perfection, till they come unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulnes of Chriſt. Eph. 4.13.