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Alone.] The reason of this expression is, to shew, that Ephraim and the ten Tribes they would be at their own hands, they would have their own wills▪ alone: There's these two things exprest in it.
First, That they would be under no government, but
alone by themselves,* 1.1 and have liberty to frisk up and down,* 1.2 and do what they list alone, acknowledging no Commander; and so the Chalde Paraphrase hath it, Be∣cause that they would walk in the evil of their own lusts,* 1.3 and would acknowledg no Comander. And thus many at this day, they love to be alone, that is, to live at their own hand, to be from under Government. Though it is here, he was alone in the Wilderness, he would rather be in the Wilderness alone, so be it he may acknowledg no Com∣mander, than in the best pastors under any command. Thus it is with many, they love to be alone, that is, they are loth to come under any Government, they had rather be in the wildernes and suffer never so great straights than come under any Government;* 1.4 It is true of divers sorts of people, even the lowest sort, many that love to live at their own hand, servants that are not able to provide for themselves that if they have but a little sickness are ready to starve, yet that they might live without any command, not under any Government, they will chuse rather to en∣dure abundance of hardship that they may live alone;* 1.5 ma∣ny times it is so, especially in the foemale sex, which ought to be under Government and some Protection, yet they love to be alone at their own hand; I say, and meer∣ly because they cannot endure to come under any kind of Government whatsoever.
And in the wilderness.] Their lives indeed are as in the wilderness, when they are in any straights and distresses they have no body to look after them and regard them be∣cause they loved their liberties so much before. So, many had rather be without all Ordinances in the Church, or many Ordinances,* 1.6 only that they might live as they list, at their own wills, that they may not be under the Go∣vernment of Christ, they had rather live in the wilderness of the world so that they might have liberty, rather than be in Gods Vinyard under the Government of Christ. These come under the reproof here that Ephraim did in this place.
Secondly, Alone by himself, as unfit for Society, they were so furious and fierce in their way: Some are of such untoward and perverse dispositions that they can agree with no body, so that they are only fit to live in the wil∣derness: I suppose you have met with in your families that are so extreamly perverse in their waies, and they are of such untoward and crooked dispositions that they are fit to live in no Society but alone in the Wilderness: and this reproof of Ephraim comes likewise upon those.
Alone.
1. Vnder no govern∣ment.
Eò quòd ambula∣runt in voluntate animae suae.
Servants at their own hand,
Especially Maidens.
Christians without ordinances