But 1 passed over upon her fair Neck

But I passed over upon her fair Neck.

Some carry the words as expressing God's indulgence, as if he was content to let Ephraim to prosper and thrive in their way, and not to bring any hard bondage upon them, but it's more like the other way that I find others to go, that is:

I came upon her fair neck, and made the yoke to pass over.

So Hierom upon the place, says when it's spoken of God (this phrase, to pass over) it's not only meant here in a way of threatening, but it's always so meant in Scripture, in a way of threatening of God's passing over, and it may very well be here a threatening expression following the similitude, for God is in a way of allegory expressing himself after the manner of husbandry, as when he threatens that they shall be yoked.

And then Ephraim is compared to a heifer that is taught, as if he should say, he would not willingly work. From where the note is,

That God looks upon dainty, tender, delicate people that mind nothing but their ease and delicacy with INDIGNATION. What! Ephraim must be so tender and delicate that nothing must come upon her neck! I'll make the yoke to come upon it (says God.) When people through their delicacy they must live in the world and altogether be tended, and all things must be serviceable to them, and they of no use at all, God cannot bear it. And as for the eminency of any of you, either in estates, or honors in the world above others, it ought not to be the cause of envy, for it is God that puts the difference between one and the other; we do not envy that some should go finer than others, but this is that which neither God nor man can endure, that men and women should have so much in the world, and yet be so little useful to the world, should be through their delicacy as if they were born for nothing else but like babies to play withal. Says God, I'll make the yoke to pass over them. But now, there are other manner of works, than servile works, though you do not put your hands to servile labor; but then you through your delicacy, if you meet with any hard work, will do nothing for God, the Lord looks upon such dispositions as sinful, and with indignation, and God has his time to bring them to hardness, as he has done to many. How many delicate and fair necks that could not endure any difficulty has God brought the yoke upon in these days, that were so nice and tender, and complaining of every little difficulty in any work that God would have them to do? God has made the yoke to pass over their heads, and to lie heavy upon their necks; God threatens this to the Daughters of Babylon, to the Antichristian party especially, in (Isaiah 47:1, 2): "Come down, and sit in the dust, O Virgin, Daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called, Tender, and Delicate. Take the mill-stones and grind meal; uncover your locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers." And then in the 3rd verse: "Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yea your shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet you as a man." That which you cannot endure so much as to hear of now, (your very ears are so delicate, as well as your necks) that I'll bring upon you. Oh my brethren! how much better is it to be willing to endure hardships for God, than to be brought to hardships by our adversaries? And rather to put our necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ, than to have God put our necks under the yoke of his wrath and displeasure. But God has his time to bring upon them hard things, and therefore though God spares you for your bodies, that you need not put your bodies to that servileness that others do; yet be so much the more willing to do service for God otherwise, venture your selves among your kindred, that's the work that God calls ladies to do: you meet with carnal friends that are honorable and of great rank in the world, now for one to appear in the midst of them for the cause of God, this is as hard a work as to labor with one's hands, and they may do a great deal more service by such work as this, to speak for those that are godly. When you come in company that is carnal, be willing to put forth your selves to endure hardships in that way that God calls you to, and God accepts of it; but if you through the delicacy and niceness of your spirit, your spirit comes to be as delicate as your skin is, and you must not displease any, nor suffer any thing for God, it's just with God to bring you to suffer in spite of your heart. But it follows;