An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Then observe; To be free from labour and service, is but a very low privilege.

Then observe; To be free from labour and service, is but a very low priviledge.

It is but the privilege of an Ass; and as it is but a low privilege to be free from service, so it is a great sin to cast off service. Some under pretence of liberty, cast off obedience, and will not bear the yoke of duty or good government; this is indeed to be free as the wild Ass is free. Such are spoken of (Psal. 2.2, 3.) Come let us break their bonds, and cast their cords from us. They that would break the bonds and cords there spoken of, desire only, and look after a sinful liberty, a meaner liberty than that of the wild Ass. The Prophet going to the great men (Jer. 5.5.) said, These have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds; that is, the yoke of duty which God hath laid upon them. They have no cause of boasting, that are free from the bonds of service; but they who cast off the bonds of duty, have great cause to be ashamed. Thus the Prophet reproves that people, as one man (Hos. 8.9.) They are gone up to Assy i•, a wild Ass alone by himself. As if the Prophet had said, Th•y lo•k not up to the high God for help, but to Assyria; the high God was not so high in their eyes as Assyria: doing thus, they we•e like a wild Ass (saith the Prophet) and so they were in two things; First, They we•e extreme stubborn, resolved to have their will, and satisfy their lusts. Ephraim was as violent in his way as a wild Ass. Secondly, •hey were like a wild Ass, they would be alone; A wild Ass alone by himself; that is, they would be at liberty, free from all command, to do what they list; they had rather be