ARRIVED at Bethlehem, the only feelings which her appearance has created appear to be those of curiosity; the whole city is moved, and each one anxiously enquires, is this Naomi? And she said unto them, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me ?"*

We here discover the keen sensibility of the afflicted widow, and the bitterness of her sorrow, expressed in strongly pathetic language. Yet, though she cannot but feel, still she dare not murmur-it is the Lord that has afflicted her. What a sovereign remedy is such a consideration against despair or murmuring, when troubles come in upon us as a flood? for shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?

The period of Naomi's return is worthy of observation-it was in the beginning of barley-harvest. To men this may appear accidental; but it was afore determined by Him, who fixes the bounds of our habitation, and who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own sovereign will.

Among the inhabitants of Bethlehem, Naomi and Ruth might probably have obtained, as the boon of Ruth i. 20, 21. C

charity, a scanty sufficiency; but dependence is scorned, whilst any reputable and honest mode suggests itself whereby they may provide for themselves "things honest in the sight of all men." "And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, go, my daughter."* The season of the year was favourable; and, happily, the law of that God whom she had deliberately taken for her God, had made provision for persons in her destitute condition: "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God." "And when ye reap the harvest of your lapd, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather, any gleaning of thy harvest; thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I amı the Lord your God." "When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that the Lord thy God may bless, thee in all the work of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. And thou shalt remember, that thou wast a, bond-man in the land I of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing."

* Ruth il. 2. † Lev. xix. 9, 10. xxiii. 22. ‡ Deut. xxiv. 19–22.

3

Having obtained her mother's consent, Ruth, Heaven directed, "weht, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. And, behold, Boaz › came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, the Lord be with you. And they answered him, the Lord bless thee."*

What an interesting part of our history is this? Who can hear Boaz' benediction, and the reply of the reapers, without feeling how "happy are the people that are in such a case? yea! how blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God?" Blessed indeed must they be who are united by the bonds of piety, as well as by the tie of mutual dependence. Where such an union exists, how pleasant, how ready, how efficient will be obedience! how strong and faithful attachment! how unfeigned affection on the one hand! how humanized, chastened, and meek superiority on the other! Servants," in this case, will be obedient unto their own masters," according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in Heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”+

Then said Boaz unto his servant, that was set over the reapers, whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered, and said, it * Ruth ii. v. 3, 4. + Ephes. vi. v. 5–9.

is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, it hath fully been shewed 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. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 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. And Boaz said unto her, at meal-time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, 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: and let fall also some of the handfuls, on purpose for her, and leave them, that

testimony that she was a virtuous woman, fearing God, and "walking in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless." She who had proved a tried and steady friend in a season of distress and calamity who had fors saken her country and her home, in order to participate in the affliction, and to work for the support of her aged relative, could not fail favourably to impress a mind so benevolent, so tender, so delicate, as that of Boaz. We therefore are not surprized, if his exhibit something which indicates a transition in his feelings from pity to love, and discover a joy at the prospect of raising to affluence and distinction one whose conduct he so much approved. But a difficulty meets him at the outset: though a kinsman, there is yet one nearer than himself, in whom the right of redemption is vested. Duty and apparent present interest seem opposed-but the conflict between them is but momentary: principle and honor triumph; and Boaz, disdaining to take any advantage, with mixed resignation and anxiety, commits the case to the conduct of Him who does all things well. "Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake, came by; unto whom he said, ho, such a one, turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land which was our brother Elimelech's: and I thought to advertise thee, saying, buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, what day thou buyost the field of the hand of