An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

A wild Ass, alone by himself.

This creature the Scripture mentions in divers places for one of the most unruly, and untamable, and fierce creature in the world. Such a creature as cannot be brought to be serviceable, it wil not be brought to live with men, no, it cannot be brought to live long with other beasts, no nor to keep company with their own kind, so fierce and savage it is, but runs up and down in the wilderness alone. In Job, 11. 12. we have mention of this creature. For vain in an would be wise, though man be born like a wild Asses Colt. And in Job, 39. 5. Who hath sent out the wild Ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild Ass? And in Jer. 2. 24. to name no more. A wild Ass used to the wilderness that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her a∣way? all they that seek her will not weary themselves, in her month they shall find her.* 1.1 In her occasion when he hath a mind unto the foemale, she snuffeth up the wind, as the Historians say of her, they go up to Mountains and there they seek to have the sent of the foemale, or the male, so they snuff up the wind even for the sent of her.* 1.2 And so the Naturalists that write the nature of this Creature, Pliny. in his eighth Book and fourty Chapter: Those that are Scholers that desire to know more of the nature of this beast may find divers things there. But now we are on∣ly

to speak of it as the Scripture speaks of it here.

Why doth God compare Ephraim amd the ten Tribes to the wild Ass?* 1.3

For two Reasons.* 1.4 1. To shew the extream stubbornness and fierceness of this people.* 1.5 Wicked men that have for∣saken God, and are left to themselves, do not only become like unto savage creatures, but the very worst of all sa∣vage creatures, they run up and down satisfying the lusts of their own hearts irresistably and bear down all before them,* 1.6 they stamp, and rage, and are mad when at any time they are opposed in their wicked way, this is the scope of the holy Ghost here: thus Ephraim was when he was opposed. Do you not find many so, that are in a vi∣olent way set upon wickedness and ungodliness that they will hear nothing, they snuff at the wind and all that is said against them, and run violently upon wicked waies, and upon their own ruin:* 1.7 It may be in their month you shall find them; that hath reference unto the very last month which the wild Ass goes when it is with young, then when it is so big, and till then there is no dealing with them. Some Historians say that the wild Asses are so fierce, that they will tare asunder Armor of proof, but only in the very month when they are so big that they cannot weld themselves, then you shall find them. So, though sinners be never so stubborn, yet God hath his month, and per∣haps then you shall find them. When at any time you find your children, or servants, or others to be stubborn and stout against whatsoever is said to them, and even rage in their madness for the satisfying of their wicked wills, you may remember this text and creature: they are as wild Asses that are alone by themselves; and among all wicked men Idolaters are the most stubborn and stout in their wicked waies, their hearts are set upon their Idols, yea as the phrase of Scripture is in Jer. 5. 38, They are mad upon their Idols. There's nothing that can be said to those whose hearts are taken with false worship, nothing will

prevail with them without an infinite power of God put forth, and there's no sinners more bold, more untamable and fierce in their waies, then those that are superstitious, and that's their reason that if they be opposed in their way of false worship, you know there will be such tu∣multuousness of people flinging of stones against windows where God is truly worshipped, any thing in the world though they know not what they do, yet because they think themselves condemn'd in their sinful waies, there∣fore they run like wild beasts in a furious manner even a∣gainst those that worship God better than themselves.

Secondly,* 1.8 God compares the ten Tribes to the wild Ass in way of contempt of them. As in the former place of Job, 11. 12. Vain man would be wise; though man be born like a wild Asses Colt: he would fain think himself somebody, yet he is a most base and vile creature. And if any of you be not so fierce in your wicked waies as some others are, if God hath tamed your spirits by His Word and Spirit, bless God for it, for all men are born like a wild Asses Colt, they are mad upon their wicked waies to ruin themselves.* 1.9 But because there's no men that think higher of themselves than stubborn spirits; for stoutness and stub∣borness doth evermore proceed from pride, because they think it such a dishonor for their wills to be crost in any thing, therefore the Scripture casts the more contempt upon them, and calls such, proud, stout fools, wild Asses; and indeed there are none more contemptible in the eyes of God than stout sinners. It follows.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ier. 2. 24. illustrated
• * 1.2

  Pliny
• * 1.3

  Quest.
• * 1.4

  Answ.
• * 1.5

  Why the ten Tribes compared to a wild Asses colt.
• * 1.6

  Wicked men wild upon their lusts.
• * 1.7

  In their month, what?
• * 1.8

  2. Wicked men con∣temptible.
• * 1.9

  Stubborn∣ness the fruit of pride.