John Trapp on Zechariah 7:11

Verſe 11. But they refuſed to hearken] Being a nation void of counſell, Deut. 32.28. not willing to know what they ſhould do, leſt they ſhould do what they would not. Nay (ſaid they once, when they had nothing elſe to ſay) but we will have a king.

and pulled away the ſhoulder] As untamed heifers do from the yoke: or untoward Porters from the burthen. The Vulgar rendreth it, Averterunt ſcapulam recedentem, making it a Metaphor from thoſe that ſcornfully turn their backs upon their betters, when they like not their commands: as the Earl of Eſſex did once upon Queen Elizabeth; Camd. Eliz. Anno 1598. whereat ſhe waxing impatient, gave him a cuffe on the ear, bidding him be gone with a miſchief. Sides and ſhoulders ſhould be ſet to Gods work, Zeph. 3.9.

and ſtopped their ears] Heb. they made heavy their ears. See here, how they proceeded by degrees from bad to worſe (for Nemo repentè fit turpiſſimus) noted in the many Ands here uſed. There is a concatenation of Vices as well as of Graces: and he that is one ſtep down the ladder of hell, knoweth not where he ſhall ſtop, till he break his neck at the very bottom. Wherefore Principiis chſta. Meddle not with ſin: it is modeſt and maidenlike at firſt, but who knows what it may come to? We have heard of Virgins ſo modeſt at firſt, as to bluſh at the motions of an honeſt love, who being once corrupt and debauched, have grown boldly laſcivious, ſo as to ſollicite others, ſo as to proſtitute themſelves to all commers, &c. Keep thee therefore farre from an cvil matter, Exod. 23.7. have nothing to do with the unfruitfull works of darkneſſe, Epheſ. 5.11. Circa ſerpentis antrum poſitus non eris diu illaeſus. Iſidor. He that playes upon the hole of the aſp may be ſuddenly ſtung.