He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Ver. 22. He goeth after her straightway.] Without any consideration of the sad consequences. Lust had blinded and besotted him, and even transformed him into a brute. Nos animas etiam incarnavimus, saith one. Many men have made their very spirit a lump of flesh, and are hurried on to hell with greatest violence. Chide them, you do but give medicine in a fit; counsel them, you do but give advice to a man that is running a race; be your counsel never so good, he cannot stay to hear you, but will be ready to answer, as Antipater did when one presented him with a book treating of happiness, he rejected it, and said ου σχολαζω, I have no leisure to read such discourses.
As an ox goeth to the slaughter.] When he thinks he goeth to the pasture; or as those oxen brought forth by Jupiter's priest, with garlands unto the gates, but it was for a slain sacrifice. Act 14:13 Fatted ware are but fitted for the shambles.
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks.] Such stocks as Paul and Silas (yet no fools) were thrust into, feet and neck also, as the word there signifieth a Act 14:24 This the fool fears not till he feels; till his head be cooled, and his heels too till he hath slept out his drunkenness, and then he finds where he is, and must stick by it. See this exemplified in Proverbs 5:11. How many such fools have we today (mori morantur quocunque sub axe morantur) that rejoice in their spiritual bondage, and dance to hell in their bolts, as one saith; nay, are weary of deliverance. They sit in the stocks when they are at prayers, and come out of the church when the tedious sermon runs somewhat beyond the hour, like prisoners out of a jail. The devil is at inn with such, saith Master Bradford; and the devil will keep holiday, as it were in hell, in respect of such, saith another.
a Beza in loc.