the ground, and made a very decent and grateful reply, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take knowledge of me, seeing I [am] a stran11 ger, whom thou hast never seen before? And Boaz answered and said unto her, I have heard of thy filial affection, and it hath been fully showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity; and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. He then blessed her with much seriousness, and 12 said, The LORD recompense thy work, this high act of faith and virtue, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord GOD of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust ;* may God reward thee like himself, to whose good providence thou hast committed thyself, whose favour and protection thou hast 13 sought. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens; begging the continuance of his favour, as her greatest comfort under her present affliction, as a stranger, and coming from a country of ill character; and therefore not equal to the meanest of his servants. This hand14 some reply increased his civility and respect for her; And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.† And she sat beside the reapers; not among them, but near them: and he, observing her modesty and unwillingness to help herself, reached her parched [corn,] corn dried on the fire, which was a common provision among them, and she did eat, and was 'suf15 ficed, and left. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not, as if too bold and as16 suming. And, as an encouragement to her industry, let fall also [some] of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave [them,] 17 that she may glean [them,] and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley, near a bushel, 18 And she took [it] up, and went into the city and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed; the remainder of the provisions which Boaz gave her when she 19 sat by the reapers. And her mother in law said unto her,

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* An allusion, some say, to the cherubim spreading their wings over the holy place, where the ark was; or rather, to an hen cherishing and protecting her brood under her wings,

+ Bread is put for provisions in general; vinegar was used in those hot countries for sauce, as it was cooling and strengthening.

Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee: she thought Ruth could not have got so much without the special favour of some generous person. Ruth then told her who he was, but did not know that he was her relation; and she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The 20 man's name with whom I wrought today [is] Boaz. And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed [be] he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead, who had shown kindness to her husband and sons, and now to her. And Naomi said unto her, The man [is] near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen, or one that hath right to redeem, (see Lev. xxv. 25.) that is, to redeem the mortgaged land, and raise up the name of the dead by marrying the widow, 21 Deut. xxv. 5. And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest, that is, till the end of wheat harvest, 22 which followed the other. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, [It is] good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field, where you will perhaps not be so welcome, and may meet with 23 some ill usage. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law, returning home every even

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REFLECTIONS.

FERE is a good example for those who are in the lowest stations and meanest circumstances of life. In this young woman, the poor have an example of industry, humility, and gratitude; she brought her mind to her condition; was content to glean for her support. She was not ashamed to confess her poverty, nor willing to eat the bread of idleness. Let the poor learn hence to be diligent, to work for their living, and not Be burdensome to others, or to beg what they might earn by their labour. Poverty and sloth are very ill matched; and yet how often do we see them meet! Many had rather beg, and stoop to the greatest meanness, or the worst villany, than labour with their hands. Ruth is also a good example of gratitude and respect; she was very thankful for the kindness shown her, and desirous also to secure the interest and favour of her benefactor. We see no arrogant airs, no abuse of his kindness: but the greatest modesty and thankfulness. When she had finished her day's work, instead of gadding about, or trifling with the servants of Boaz, she goes straight home, and minds her own proper business. In this respect servants and poor people ought to imitate her example, as they desire the esteem and kindness of others, and would contract good habits for this world and the next.

2. Here is a good example to masters of families, and those in prosperous circumstances of life. The rich and the wealthy may see how they ought to behave, namely, to look well to their affairs, to be obliging to their servants, and kind to strangers, especially to the pious poor. Boaz, though he had a steward or Overseer, came himself, and looked well to the ways of his household, had his eye upon every thing. If masters would have their work go on well, they must follow it themselves, and not trust it wholly to servants. Religion, as well as self interest, should make men careful and frugal, and cultivate good economy. Let masters learn from this example to treat their servants in a friendly, obliging manner. Boaz comes into the field, and does not begin chiding and scolding them, much less cursing and swearing at them, (as many do without occasion, or with a very small one, to show their authority and indulge their spleen) but, with the greatest respect and piety, prays for them; and they return the civility in the same pious language. Let masters and mistresses be careful that they do not teach their servants an evil lesson against themselves.; and, by treating them with harshness and roughness, inflame their spirits, and make them worse. A friendly word, and a kind look, will generally do a great deal more than ever so much chiding. And let both masters and servants learn, that piety is an ornament to discourse; and that mutual good wishes for each other are very becoming, provided they are not made things of form. 'Boaz's charity and civility to a stranger, especially to one that gave such substantial proofs of her piety, is worthy of imitation. On our tongue let there be the law of kindness. Let the rich be ready to distribute and willing to communicate, especially to God's poor. Let us have compassion one to another, and love as brethren; be pitiful, be courteous.

3. Let all learn that those who persist in the discharge of their duty, and put themselves under the protection of heaven shall not miss their reward. Ruth's humility and industry are here rewarded; and more so, as we shall find hereafter. All of us, whatever our circumstances are, need the favour and protection of God. Let us therefore come and trust under the shadow of his wings. Let us fly to him, and rely upon him. So shall a full recompense of reward be given to us; for this is a great and glorious work, and a great and gracious promise is annexed to it, namely, that God is not unrighteous, to forget our work of faith and our labour of love; but that in keeping his commandments there is a great reward.

CHAP. III.

We have here the method taken by Ruth to claim Boaz for her husband. The intention in itself was good; it was only to make that claim which the law of God allowed; but the method looked suspicious, and plainly showed too great a distrust of Providence.

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HEN Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? Naomi was desirous of seeking a settlement for her daughter, where she might live more comfortably, than she could do with her; she therefore said, And now [is] not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he 3 winnoweth barley to night in the threshing floor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: [but] make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drink4 ing. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down at his feet; and he will 5 tell thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, Al 6 that thou sayest unto me I will do. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade 7 her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her 8 down at his feet. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman 9 lay at his feet. And he said, Who [art] thou? And she answered, I [am] Ruth thine handmaid, spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou [art] a near kinsman; take me under thy protection, for thou hast a right to redeem our 10 lands, and claim me as thy wife. And Boaz, instead of reproaching her as an immodest woman, commended her highly. And he said, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD, my daughter: [for] thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning; more kindness to thy husband and mother in law, in desiring to preserve the name of the family, than in all the former instances of thy affection to them; inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich, preferring one so much advanced in years, because he is a relation to thy 11 family, rather than a younger person. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou [art] a virtuous woman. He would not have her imagine he thought ill of her because she took this course, or would despise her because she was poor and mean; but would see that she had justice done to her in the morning. And now it is true that I [am thy] near 12 kinsman howbeit, there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry 13 this night, and it shall be in the morning, [that] if he will

perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, [as] the 14 LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a 15 woman came into the floor. Also he said, Bring the veil, or sheet or apron, that [thou hast] upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid [it] on her, making her a present of as much corn as she could carry, according to the honest plain bounty of those ancient 16 times and she went into the city. And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who [art] thou, my daughter? 17 And she told her all that the man had done to her, And she

said, These six [measures] of barley gave he me; for he 18 said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day; you may depend upon it Boaz will keep his word.

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REFLECTIONS.

ROM Naomi's concern for her daughter in law, we may observe, that which should be desired in the marriage state is rest, and that it may be well with us; that the affections may be fixed, and ease and happiness be found. It is the wisdom and duty of parents to seek this rest for their children, by assisting them in the choice of proper helpmates; and to remember that this rest is not to be expected where there is not an hearty union of tempers and affections. And may we all remember, that it is never well with any persons, truly well, till it is well with their souls; they will never have rest till then this is therefore the main thing to be regarded in every choice.

2. Virtue in any station should have its due praise, and be held in high esteem. Boaz commended Ruth for her honest industry and filial affection; yea, the whole city could not but own that she was a virtuous woman; her poverty did not hide her virtue, but made it more eminent and remarkable. We ought to commend what is good in the poorest and meanest; steady virtue will approve itself to mankind; and those who behave consistently with their rank and condition, will find favour both with God and man.

3. We may observe, that great care ought to be taken to keep up a good name. The conduct of Boaz plainly suggests this remark. He knew the purity of Ruth's intention, and was conscious of his own virtue, yet he was desirous to conceal what might raise suspicion; that he might not trouble those who were good, nor give an handle to those who were bad, to reproach and censure. We ought to be afraid of scandal as well as sin; and