John Trapp on Hosea 4:17

Verſe 17. Ephraim is joyned to idols, let him alone.] Ephraim, that is, the ten revolted Tribes, who are called Ephraim in oppoſition to Judah. 1. Becauſe that Tribe was the greateſt of the ten. 2. Jeroboam the ring-leader of that revolt, was of the Tribe. 3. They fell off at Shechem, which was in that Tribe, and from thenceforth was joyned, or agglutinated to idols.] as the fornicatour is to his harlot, with whom he becometh one fleſh: and from whom there is no diſſwading him. Some fetch the Metaphor from Enchanters; who by their conjuring Art have ſociety and fellowſhip with the devils; ſo had Ephraim with idols: and like an enchanted perſon he could not ſtir from them, but ſtood faſtened to them as to a ſtock or ſtake. The Tyrians, when beſieged by Alexander, fearing the departure of their god Apollo from them, laid chains upon his ſtatue, and faſtened him to his Temple. Ephraim was ſo faſtened to his fray-buys (terriculis, ſo Junius renders this Text) that there is no likelihood, of his being ſundred from them: he had taken faſt hold of deceit, Ier. 8.5. and would not looſe his hold. Let him alone, therefore, ſaith either God to the Prophet (lay out no more words, loſe no more labour upon him) or the Prophet to Judah; let them even go, have nothing to do with them, though they be your brethren, meddle not with them, let Chriſt alone to deal with them at his coming: Maranatha, the Lord cometh. Mean-while, they lie under a dreadfull ſpirituall judgement, worſe then all the plagues of Egypt: even a dead and dedolent diſpoſition, wherunto they are delivered. This is worſe then to be delivered to Satan: for ſo a man may be, and recover out of his ſnare by repentance, as the inceſtuous Corinthian did: but when God ſhall ſay, Let ſuch a man alone, let him take his courſe, I have done with him, and let my Miniſters trouble themſelves no more about him, there is thenceforth but an inch betwixt him and hell, which even gapes for him, where he ſhall rue it among reprobates. Well he may flouriſh a while, and feel no hurt; as Saul did not of many years after his rejection: and as the Phariſees, after Chriſt had ſaid of them, Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind. Mat. 15. But they ſhall pine & ſwelter away in their iniquities Lev. 26.39. which is the laſt of thoſe diſmall plagues there threatened: they ſhall not be purged till Gods wrath hath reſted upon them, Ezek. 24.13. ſo that now they may go and ſerve every one his idols, ſith they have ſuch a mind to it, Ezek. 20.39. and ſith they have made a match with miſchief, they may take their belly-full of it. Oh let us feare, leſt this ſhould be any of our caſes: that God ſhould ſay let him alone, he is reſolved of his way, and I of mine: he will have his ſwinge in ſin, and I am bent to have my full blow at him. I am fully perſwaded (ſaith a Reverend man now with God) that in theſe dayes of grace, the Lord is much more quick and peremptory in rejecting men, then heretofore: the time is ſhorter, neither will he wait ſo long as he uſed to do. See for ground of this Heb. 2.3. God is oft quick in the offer of his mercy: Go and preach the Goſpel, ſaith Chriſt (Go and be quick: tell men what to truſt to, that as fooles, they may not be ſemper victuri ever about to be better, but never begin to ſet ſeriouſly to work) He that beleeveth ſhall be ſaved: he that beleeveth not ſhall be damned: I ſhall not longer dally with him. Deſtruction cometh and they ſhall ſeek peace, and there ſhall be none. Miſchief ſhall come upon miſchief, and rumour upon rumour: then ſhall they ſeek a viſion of the Prophet: but the law ſhall periſh from the Prieſt, and counſel from the ancient &c. Ezek. 7.25.26. when men are even dropping into hell, and have an hell afore-hand in their conſciences, then they'le ſend haſtily for the miniſter, as they did in the ſweating-ſickneſſe here, ſo long as the ferventneſſe of the plague laſted: Then the Miniſters were ſought for in every corner, you muſt come to my Lord, you muſt come to my Lady, &c. But what if God have ſaid of ſuch a one, Let him alone, as he reproved Samuel for mourning for Saul, and as he forbad Jeremy to pray for the Jewes, and his Apoſtles to take care for the Phariſees? Oh how dreadfull is that mans condition! and what can a Miniſter ſay more then what the king of Iſrael ſaid to the woman that complained to him of the ſcarcity of Samaria If the Lord help thee not, 2 King. 6.27. whence ſhall I help thee? out of the barne-floore, or out of the winepreſſe: If any dram of comfort be applied to a wicked man, the truth of God is falſified, and that Miniſter will be reckoned amongſt the devils dirt-dawbers & upholſters,Ezek. 13.18. that dawb with untemper'd morter & ſow pillowes under mens elbowes: Let ſuch alone therefore, and let God alone to deale with them.