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Passage 1: Nehemiah 4

(Neh 4:1) But when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, then was he wroth and sore grieued, and mocked the Iewes,

(Neh 4:2) And sayde before his brethren and the armie of Samaria, thus he sayde, What doe these weake Iewes? wil they fortifie them selues? wil they sacrifice? will they finish it in a day? will they make the stones whole againe out of the heapes of dust, seeing they are burnt?

(Notes Reference) And he spake before his (a) brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these (b) feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

(a) Of his companions who dwelt in Samaria.

(b) Thus the wicked who do not consider that God's power is always ready to defend his, mock them as thought they were weak and feeble.

(Neh 4:3) And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and said, Although they buylde, yet if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stonie wall.

(Neh 4:4) Heare, O our God (for we are despised) and turne their shame vpon their owne head, and giue them vnto a pray in the lande of their captiuitie,

(Notes Reference) (c) Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey (d) in the land of captivity:

(c) This is the remedy that the children of God have against the derision and threatenings of their enemies, to flee to God by prayer.

(d) Let them be spoiled and led away captive.

(Neh 4:5) And couer not their iniquitie, neither let their sinne be put out in thy presence: for they haue prouoked vs before the builders.

(Notes Reference) And cover not their (e) iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders.

(e) Let the plagues declare to the world that they set themselves against you and your Church: that he prays only having respect for God's glory and not for any private affection, or grudge.

(Neh 4:6) So we built the wall, and all the wall was ioyned vnto the halfe thereof, and the heart of the people was to worke.

(Neh 4:7) But when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodims heard that the walles of Ierusalem were repayred, (for the breaches began to be stopped) then they were very wroth,

(Neh 4:8) And conspired all together to come and to fight against Ierusalem, and to hinder them.

(Neh 4:9) The we prayed vnto our God, and set watchmen by them, day and night, because of them.

(Neh 4:10) And Iudah said, The strength of the bearers is weakened, and there is much earth, so that we are not able to build the wall.

(Neh 4:11) Also our aduersaries had sayde, They shall not knowe, neither see, till we come into the middes of them and slay them, and cause the worke to cease.

(Neh 4:12) But when the Iewes (which dwelt beside them) came, they told vs ten times, From all places whence ye shall returne, they wil be vpon vs.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us (f) ten times, (g) From all places whence ye shall return unto us [they will be upon you].

(f) That is, often.

(g) They who brought the tidings said this, when you leave your work, and go either to eat or to rest, your enemies will assail you.

(Neh 4:13) Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall vpon the toppes of the stones, and placed the people by their families, with their swordes, their speares and their bowes.

(Neh 4:14) Then I behelde, and rose vp, and said vnto the Princes, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afrayde of them: remember the great Lord, and fearefull, and fight for your brethren, your sonnes, and your daughters, your wiues, and your houses.

(Notes Reference) And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: (h) remember the Lord, [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

(h) Who is always on hand to deliver his out of danger: and therefore seeing they should fight for the maintenance of God's glory, and for the preservation of their own lives and of theirs, he encourages them to play the valiant men.

(Neh 4:15) And when our enemies heard that it was knowen vnto vs, then God brought their counsell to nought, and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his worke.

(Neh 4:16) And from that day, halfe of the yong men did the labour, and the other halfe part of them helde the speares, and shieldes, and bowes, and habergins: and the rulers stoode behinde all the house of Iudah.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers [were] (i) behind all the house of Judah.

(i) To overcome them and encourage them in their work.

(Neh 4:17) They that buylded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, and they that laded, did the worke with one hand, and with the other helde the sworde.

(Neh 4:18) For euery one of the buylders had his sworde girded on his loynes, and so buylded: and he that blewe the trumpet, was beside me.

(Neh 4:19) Then saide I vnto the Princes, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The worke is great and large, and we are separated vpon the wall, one farre from another.

(Neh 4:20) In what place therefore ye heare the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither vnto vs: our God shall fight for vs.

(Notes Reference) In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet, (k) resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

(k) Meaning, to resist their enemies, if need be.

(Neh 4:21) So we laboured in the worke, and halfe of them helde the speares, from the appearing of the morning, till the starres came foorth.

(Neh 4:22) And at the same time said I vnto the people, Let euery one with his seruant lodge within Ierusalem, that they may be a watch for vs in the night, and labour in the day.

(Neh 4:23) So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my seruants, nor the men of the warde, (which followed me) none of vs did put off our clothes, saue euery one put them off for washing.

(Notes Reference) So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, [saving that] every one put them off (l) for washing.

(l) That is, when they purified themselves or else when they washed their clothes.

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Passage 2: Hosea 14

(Hos 14:1) (14:2) O Israel, returne vnto the Lord thy God: for thou hast fallen by thine iniquitie.

(Notes Reference) O Israel, (a) return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

(a) He exhorts them to repentance to avoid all these plagues, exhorting them to declare by words their obedience and repentance.

(Hos 14:2) (14:3) Take vnto you words, and turne to the Lord, and say vnto him, Take away all iniquitie, and receiue vs graciously: so wil we render the calues of our lippes.

(Notes Reference) Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, (b) Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our (c) lips.

(b) He shows them that they ought to confess their sins.

(c) Declaring that this is the true sacrifice that the faithful can offer, even thanks and praise; (Heb 13:15).

(Hos 14:3) (14:4) Asshur shall not saue vs, neither wil we ride vpon horses, neither will we say any more to the worke of our handes, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercie.

(Notes Reference) Asshur shall (d) not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Ye are] our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

(d) We will forsake all vain confidence and pride.

(Hos 14:4) (14:5) I wil heale their rebellion: I wil loue them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

(Notes Reference) (e) I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

(e) He declares how ready God is to receive those that do repent.

(Hos 14:5) (14:6) I will be as the dewe vnto Israel: he shall grow as the lilie and fasten his rootes, as the trees of Lebanon.

(Hos 14:6) (14:7) His branches shall spread, and his beautie shalbe as the oliue tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

(Hos 14:7) (14:8) They that dwel vnder his shadow, shall returne: they shall reuiue as the corne, and florish as the vine: the sent thereof shalbe as the wine of Lebanon.

(Notes Reference) They that dwell under his (f) shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon.

(f) Whoever unites themselves to this people will be blessed.

(Hos 14:8) (14:9) Ephraim shall say, What haue I to doe any more with idoles? I haue heard him, and looked vpon him: I am like a greene firre tree: vpon me is thy fruite founde.

(Notes Reference) Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? I (g) have heard [him], and observed him: I [am] like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

(g) God shows how prompt he is to hear his own when they repent, and to offer himself as a protection and safeguard for them, as a most sufficient fruit and benefit.

(Hos 14:9) (14:10) Who is wise, and he shall vnderstande these things? and prudent, and he shall knowe them? for the wayes of the Lord are righteous, and the iust shall walke in them: but the wicked shall fall therein.

(Notes Reference) Who [is] (h) wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

(h) Signifying that the true wisdom and knowledge consists in this, even to rest upon God.

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Passage 3: 1 Thessalonians 3-4

(1Th 3:1) Wherefore since we could no longer forbare, wee thought it good to remaine at Athens alone,

(1Th 3:2) And haue sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God, and our labour felow in the Gospel of Christ, to stablish you, and to comfort you touching your faith,

(1Th 3:3) That no man should be moued with these afflictions: for ye your selues knowe, that we are appointed thereunto.

(Notes Reference) That no man should be moved by these afflictions: (1) for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

(1) The will of God, who calls his own on this condition, to bring them to glory by affliction, is a most sure remedy against all afflictions.

(1Th 3:4) For verily when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulations, euen as it came to passe, and ye knowe it.

(1Th 3:5) Euen for this cause, when I could no longer forbeare, I sent him that I might knowe of your faith, lest the tempter had tempted you in any sort, and that our labour had bene in vaine.

(1Th 3:6) But now lately when Timotheus came from you vnto vs, and brought vs good tidings of your faith and loue, and that ye haue good remembrance of vs alwayes, desiring to see vs, as we also do you,

(Notes Reference) (2) But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also [to see] you:

(2) Because they have to this point gone so well forward, he exhorts them again to make an end of the rest of the journey, seeing that in doing so they will do him their apostle a great pleasure.

(1Th 3:7) Therefore, brethren, we had consolation in you, in all our affliction and necessitie through your faith.

(1Th 3:8) For nowe are wee aliue, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

(Notes Reference) For now we (a) live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

(a) For now you cannot otherwise think of me as at rest and in a good state of being, unless you go forward in religion and faith.

(1Th 3:9) For what thankes can wee recompense to God againe for you, for all the ioy wherewith we reioyce for your sakes before our God,

(1Th 3:10) Night and day, praying exceedingly that wee might see your face, and might accomplish that which is lacking in your faith?

(Notes Reference) Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might (b) perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

(b) Paul was forced through the pressing dealing of the enemies to leave the building which he had just begun: and for that reason he had left Silas and Timothy in Macedonia, and when Timothy came to Athens to him, he sent him back again immediately. So that he desires to see the Thessalonians, that he may thoroughly perfect their faith and religion, that was as yet imperfect.

(1Th 3:11) Nowe God himselfe, euen our Father, and our Lord Iesus Christ, guide our iourney vnto you,

(1Th 3:12) And the Lord increase you, and make you abound in loue one toward another, and towarde all men, euen as we doe toward you:

(Notes Reference) (3) And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you:

(3) Another part of the epistle, in which he speaks of the duties of a Christian life. And he shows that the perfection of a Christian life consists in two things, that is, in charity toward all men, and inward purity of the heart. And the accomplishment of these things is nonetheless deferred to the next coming of Christ, who will then perfect his work by the same grace with which he began it in us.

(1Th 3:13) To make your hearts stable and vnblameable in holines before God euen our Father, at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints.

(1Th 4:1) And furthermore we beseeche you, brethren, and exhort you in the Lord Iesus, that ye increase more and more, as ye haue receiued of vs, how ye ought to walke, and to please God.

(Notes Reference) Furthermore (1) then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [you] by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, [so] ye would (a) abound more and more.

(1) Various exhortations, the foundation of which is this, to be mindful of those things which they have heard from the apostle.

(a) That you labour to excel more and more, and daily surpass yourselves.

(1Th 4:2) For ye knowe what commandements we gaue you by the Lord Iesus.

(1Th 4:3) For this is the will of God euen your sanctification, and that ye should abstaine from fornication,

(Notes Reference) (2) For this is the will of God, [even] your (b) sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

(2) This is the sum of those things which he delivered to them, to dedicate themselves wholly to God. And he plainly condemns all filthiness through lust, because it is altogether contrary to the will of God.

(b) See (Joh 17:17).

(1Th 4:4) That euery one of you should know, how to possesse his vessell in holines and honour,

(Notes Reference) (3) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

(3) Another reason, because it defiles the body.

(1Th 4:5) And not in the lust of concupiscence, euen as the Gentiles which know not God:

(Notes Reference) (4) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

(4) The third, because the saints are distinguished by honesty and purity from those who do not know God.

(1Th 4:6) That no man oppresse or defraude his brother in any matter: for the Lord is auenger of all such thinges, as we also haue tolde you before time, and testified.

(Notes Reference) (5) That no [man] go beyond and defraud his brother in [any] matter: because that the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

(5) Secondly, he reprehends all violent oppression, and immoderate desire, and shows most severely as the Prophet of God, that God will avenge such wickedness.

(1Th 4:7) For God hath not called vs vnto vncleannesse, but vnto holinesse.

(1Th 4:8) Hee therefore that despiseth these thinges, despiseth not man, but God who hath euen giuen you his holy Spirit.

(Notes Reference) He therefore that (c) despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

(c) These commandments which I gave you.

(1Th 4:9) But as touching brotherly loue, ye neede not that I write vnto you: for ye are taught of God to loue one another.

(Notes Reference) (6) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

(6) Thirdly, he requires a ready mind to every manner of lovingkindness, and exhorts them to profit more and more in that virtue.

(1Th 4:10) Yea, and that thing verily yee doe vnto all the brethren, which are throughout all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more,

(1Th 4:11) And that ye studie to be quiet, and to meddle with your owne busines, and to worke with your owne handes, as we commanded you,

(Notes Reference) (7) And that ye study to be quiet, (8) and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

(7) He condemns unsettled minds, and such as are curious in matters which do not concern them. (8) He rebukes idleness and slothfulness: and whoever is given to these vices, fall into other wickedness, to the great offence of the Church.

(1Th 4:12) That yee may behaue your selues honestly towarde them that are without, and that nothing be lacking vnto you.

(1Th 4:13) I would not, brethren, haue you ignorant concerning them which are a sleepe, that ye sorow not euen as other which haue no hope.

(Notes Reference) (9) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, (10) concerning them (11) which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

(9) The third part of the epistle, which is mixed in among the former exhortations (which he returns to afterwards), in which he speaks of mourning for the dead, and the manner of the resurrection, and of the latter day.

(10) We must take heed that we do not immoderately mourn for the dead, that is, as those do who think that the dead are utterly perished.

(11) A confirmation: for death is but a sleep of the body (for he speaks of the faithful) until the Lord comes.

(1Th 4:14) For if we beleeue that Iesus is dead, and is risen, euen so them which sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.

(Notes Reference) (12) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in (d) Jesus will God (e) bring with him.

(12) A reason for the confirmation, for seeing that the head is risen, the members also will rise, and that by the power of God.

(d) The dead in Christ, who continue in faith by which they are ingrafted into Christ, even to the last breath.

(e) Will call their bodies out of their graves, and join their souls to them again.

(1Th 4:15) For this say we vnto you by the worde of the Lord, that we which liue, and are remayning in the comming of the Lord, shall not preuent them which sleepe.

(Notes Reference) (13) For this we say unto you by the (f) word of the Lord, that (g) we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

(13) The manner of the resurrection will be in this way: the bodies of the dead will be as it were raised out of sleep at the sound of the trumpet of God. Christ himself will descend from heaven. The saints (for he is referring to them) who will then be found alive, together with the dead who will rise, will be taken up into the clouds to meet the Lord, and will be in perpetual glory with him.

(f) In the name of the Lord, as though he himself spoke to you.

(g) He speaks of these things, as though he should be one of those whom the Lord will find alive at his coming, because the time of his coming is uncertain: and therefore every one of us ought to be in such a readiness, as if the Lord were coming at any moment.

(1Th 4:16) For the Lord himselfe shall descende from heauen with a shoute, and with the voyce of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(Notes Reference) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a (h) shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(h) The word which the apostle uses here, properly signifies that encouragement which mariners give to one another, when they altogether with one shout put forth their oars and row together.

(1Th 4:17) Then shall we which liue and remaine, be caught vp with them also in the clouds, to meete the Lord in the ayre: and so shall we euer be with the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be (i) caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(i) Suddenly and in the twinkling of an eye.

(1Th 4:18) Wherefore, comfort your selues one another with these wordes.