John Trapp on Hosea 7:11

Verſe 11. Ephraim alſo is like a ſilly dove,] that may be drawn any way for want of wit (ſo the word ſignifieth) eaſily perſwaded, [non-Latin text not transcribed] enticed, deceived. The Septuagint render it [non-Latin text not transcribed], inſenſata, witleſſe, or wanting an heart, as the next words explain it; the heart being put for the underſtanding, as Jer. 5, 21.Prov. 6.32. & 11.12. & 10.13. and oft in the Proverbs. Lo ſuch a thing is Ephraim; and yet he holds himſelf wondrous wiſe, in calling to Egypt, and going to Aſſyria for help. Which was as wiſely done, as if ſheep ſhould commit themſelves to the Wolf for ſafeguard. The Egyptians were their ancient oppreſſours: the Aſſyrians ſhould be ſhortly their executioners. Betwixt theſe two, as betwixt two milſtones, they had been, and were to be ground to powder, as it were: and yet to theſe, they were ready to run for refuge. This was indeed to be like a ſilly dove, which flies from the clawes of the Hawk into the net of the fowler, who will ſoon make a breakfaſt of them: or that waits till the fowler be gone, that ſhe may fall upon the bait, never fearing the ſnare that is laid for her. See 2 King. 17.4. A ſerpents eye in a doves head is a ſingular ornament. Be ye wiſe as ſerpents, innocent as doves. The ſerpent, when charmed,Mat. 10 16 ſtoppeth his ears, by applying one to the earth, and covering the other with his tail. The dove is too credulous and perſwaſible, dulce canente fiſtulâ. She is alſo dull, and defends not her young ones, as other creatures do. She will ſit quiet in her columbary, and ſee her neſt deſtroyed, her young ones taken away, and killed before her eyes, and never offer to reſcue or revenge; which the hen and other fowls ſeem in ſome ſort to do. Lo ſuch was Ephraims ſtupidity. The Philiſtins were upon him, the enemies ſpoiled and made a prey of him, yet he knew it not, as it is verſe 9. he was not affected with it, nor driven to God by it: but either ſat ſtill, as the ſpoiled dove doth in her neſt, or upon her dove-coat, delighted in the beauty of her feathers, priding her ſelf in the clapping of her wings: or elſe ran a wrong way for refuge: flew to king Jareb, to humane helps, to carnall confederates, which never were true to thoſe that truſted them. See chap. 5.13. with the Note. Where you ſhall ſee that from the Aſſyrian they had pro praeſidio ludibrium: as likewiſe thoſe Chriſtians had that called in the Turk, or the like to help them. True it is that religion without policie is too ſimple to be ſafe: but it is no leſſe true, that policie without religion is too ſubtile to be good. As the dove without the ſerpent is eaſily caught: ſo the ſerpent without the dove ſtings deadly. Let that bee held and remembred, that there is no wiſdom, nor underſtanding, nor counſell againſt the Lord, Prov. 21.30. and that he takes it very ill, when we decline him, and knock at the creatures door for help, Ier. 2.13. ſhifting and ſharking in every by-corner for comfort. This is the devils policie to draw men from God the Rock of ages, Joſh. 8.5. (as Ioſhuah did the men of Ai out of their city, and as Briſtow counſelleth his fellows,Briſt. Mot. the Popes Janizares, to draw the Lutherans out of their ſtrong-hold of the Scriptures, into the open field of Councels and Fathers) that he may do what he will with them, and deſtroy them. For he knows, that be our hopes never ſo high, our helps from the creature never ſo likely, yet if God deny his concurrence, and influence, the arm of fleſh (as Ieroboams) ſhrinks up preſently; and the ſtrongeſt ſinew of it cracks, and becomes unuſefull.