John Trapp on Nehemiah 9:29

Verſe 29. And teſtifiedſt againſt them] Toldeſt them of their ſinnes, foretoldeſt them of their dangers, didſt all that could be done to do them good: but nothing would do.

Yet they dealt proudly] See verſe 16.

And hearkened not] Intus exiſtens prohibuit alienum; Hear, and give eare, be not proud, Jer. 13.15.

But ſinned againſt thy judgements] i. e. Thy Statutes, though made with ſo much reaſon and reſpect to our good, that if God did not command them, yet were it every way our beſt way to practiſe them, Eſay 48.17. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way which thou ſhouldeſt go. As who ſhould ſay, It is for thy profit that I command thee this or that, and not for mine own.

Which if a man do] But that, as now, he cannot do, and therefore not be ſaved by the Law, Rom. 10.5. Our Saviour indeed ſaid to that young juſticiary, This do and thou ſhalt live, Luke 10.28. But that was all one, ſaith Luther, as if Chriſt had ſaid unto him, Vade & morere, Go upon thy death; for do this of thy ſelf, and live thereby thou art never able.

And withdrew the ſhoulder] When called to take up Chriſts yoke, or to beare his croſſe. See the Note on Zach. 7.11.

And hardened their necks] To ſinewes of iron, they added browes of braſſe.