John Trapp on Nehemiah 9:8

Verſe 8. And foundeſt his heart faithful] He muſt needs finde it ſo, who had made it ſo. Otherwiſe Abraham, as well as any other, might well ſay,Bern. Horreo quicquid de meo eſt, ut meus ſim. The natural heart is deceitful and deſperately wicked, &c. a bundle of ſinne (folly is bound up, &c.) a treaſury of ſinne (an evil man out of the evil treaſure of his heart, &c.) a raging Sea of ſinne, Eſay 57.20. a world of wickedneſſe, James 3.6. If any good be in it, 'tis but as a drop of roſe-water in a bowle of poyſon; where falling, it is preſently corrupted.

And madeſt a Covenant with him] To be his God, and the God of his ſeed. This was divini mellis alveare, the bee-hive of heavenly honey: this was more then to be made Monarch of the whole world. See Gen. 17.20, 21.

To give the land of the Canaanites, &c.] Who had filled that good land from one end to the other with their uncleanneſſes, Ezra 9.11. and were therefore worthily rooted out of it. So Joſephus reporteth that in his time theſe Jewes were grown ſo wicked, that if the Romanes had not deſtroy'd them, without doubt either the earth would have ſwallowed them up, or fire from heaven have conſumed them. Bede ſaith of the ancient Britaines (immediately before their deſtruction by the Saxons) that they were come to a very great height of wickedneſſe: ſo as to ſhame the counſel of the poore, becauſe the Lord was his refuge, Pſal. 14.6.

And haſt performed thy words] Of many promiſers it may be ſaid, as Tertullian of the Peacock, all in changeable colours; as oft changed as moved. Sertorius paid his promiſes with fair words. Antiochus was ſirnamed Doſon, becauſe he oft ſaid I will give you this, or that, but never did. God is none ſuch.

For thou art righteous] That is, faithful: for there is a twofold juſtice of God. 1. Of Equity. 2. Of Fidelity. See 1 John 1.9. Rev. 10.1. Where Chriſt is ſaid to have a rainbow on his head; to ſhew that he is faithful and conſtant in his promiſes.