An Exposition of Hosea 4-7, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 7 · Verse 11
VER. 11.
Ephraim alſo is like a ſilly Dove, without heart, they call to Egypt, they go to Aſſyria.
foreignTHE word tranſlated ſilly ſignifies, eaſily ſeduced, perſwaded to any thing; we uſe to ſay, that children and fools are eaſily perſwaded to any thing; men that are hardly perſwaded to beleeve in God, and what God ſaith? yet are eaſily perſwaded to beleeve errors, theſe are ſilly Doves: yet they thought themſelves very wiſe, in going to Egypt, but they have done very ſillily, 2 King. 17.4. the leaving of Gods waies and following our own is very ſilly: how many when it hath been too late have cryed out of this their folly? From whence this Note may be obſerved.
Obſ.That although men by others may be miſled and ſeduced, yet are they not excuſed; this will not excuſe them before God at the great day to ſay others did thus, and I followed them, thinking them to be in the right.
Without heart.] That is, without underſtanding, Prov. 6.32. But who ſo committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh underſtanding, Prov. 10.21. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for want of underſtanding, or for lack of wiſdom. Now of all creatures the Dove is the moſt ſilly: as appears.
The DoveThe Dove defends not her yong ones as other creatures do, the Hen and other flying creatures will preſerve their young ones, but the ſilly Dove lets them go quietly; ſo was Ephraim, in this reſpect like unto the Dove, they were deſtroyed and made a prey on by others, yet they never laid it to heart. The Lord in mercy look upon us, Is not this our caſe? we ſuffer our brethren to be deſtroyed and made a prey of, and never lay it to heart, becauſe we for the preſent are quiet.
The Dove will keep her neſt al…hough you take away her neſt. Yea Pliny Plinyreports of ſome Doves which will fly many miles to their lockers. Even in this is Ephraim like unto a ſilly Dove alſo, where he was …any yeers ago there he is ſtill. And ſo it is with many men, they know and are convinced that ſuch company hath done them miſchief, which they have frequented, and yet they cannot leave them, here is a ſilly Dove, without underſtanding indeed.
Doves though they be ſwift in their flying, yet dull in preventing of danger, it is eaſily caught with the net;Plin. l. 10. c, 37 ſo was Ephraim eaſily enſnared by his enemies at their pleaſures and preyed upon by them.
The Dove is delighted in the beauty of her feathers, and prides her ſelf in the clapping of her wings,Idē. l. 11. c. 36. and cutting of the air as it were; Ephraim was priding her ſelf in her ornaments, and fine excellent out ſide; we are very ready and prone to imitate the creatures in that which is evil, but not in that which is good; there are ſome good properties in the Dove which they would not follow, as in their innocency and ſimplicity, their unity and chaſtity, meekneſs, without gall, cleanlineſs and purity, it loves cleer water, loves no carcaſs to feed on &c. Prudentia obſ que bonitate malitia eſt, & ſimplicitas obſ que ratione ſtultitia eſt. From whence we may note, that godlineſs does not bear men out in waies of folly, when men will not go from the rule, but ſtick unto that to be guided in all caſes of their lives, this is godly ſimplicity; it is matter of wonder to ſee how ſubtil men are to damn themſelves, and it is, and ſhould be the care of the Saints to be wiſe to ſave their ſouls, it is a ſcandal which is raiſed upon the Goſpel, that it makes men fools. Thoſe are only wiſe men who are truly godly, then men begin to be wiſe, when they begin to be godly; our ſimplicity may aggravate our miſery, but it can never bear us out in it, nor excuſe it; true godlineſs will undermine all ſinful ſimplicity, therefore take heed of putting that upon the Spirit of God which is nothing but the ſimplicity of our own hearts, Therefore be ye, wiſe as Serpents, but innocent as Doves.