Nehemiah 3:2

And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.

Ver. 2. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho] And are thereby here eternalized for their forwardness.

Claros inter, habent nomina clara, vires.

They have fame among men of fame. Though they dwelt farthest off, yet they were of the first that came to work. Jericho was the first city that Joshua overthrew for their wickedness, and cursed him that should rebuild it. Now it is the first that comes to help forward this city of God. So great is the change when God turneth people's hearts. Our fathers were as barbarous and brutish as the very Scythians; their religion was a mere irreligion and worse till Christ came among us, and gave us the pre-eminence. For besides that England was the first of all the provinces that publicly received the gospel (as saith Sabellicus), our Constantine hath been reckoned the first Christian emperor, our Lucius the first christened king, and our Henry VIII the first that brake the neck of the pope's usurped authority. As we were the first that submitted to that man of sin, so were we among the first that cast him off again; and although we are penitus toto divisi orbe Britanni (Lucan.), yet we have been hitherto famous all the world over for our faith and forwardness in God's service; though of late we have run retrograde, to the reproach of our nation. Diogenes in a great assembly going backward on purpose, and seeing every one laughing him to scorn, asked them aloud, if they were not ashamed so to do: since he went backwards but once, when they did so continually. Oh, let it not be said of us, as once of Jerusalem, that we are "slidden back by a perpetual backsliding, that we hold fast deceit, and refuse to return," Jeremiah 8:5. This is to be worse than wicked Jericho, &c.

Builded Zaccur] Whose memory therefore is blessed, when "the name of the wicked shall rot," Proverbs 10:7 .