Two Sermons, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 4
Vers. 6.
Then she arose with her Daughters in law, that she might returne from the Country of Moab: for she had heard in the Country of Moab, how that the Lord had visited his people, in giving them bread.
THese words contain two general parts.
1. Gods visiting his people with Plenty.
2. Naomies visiting of her people with her person.
I begin with the first in the Order of the words, Then she arose with her Daughters in law, &c.
Observ.
We must tarry no longer in an Idolatrous Land, when God offereth us an occasion to returne into our own Country: for so long as we tarry in an Idolatrous Land on a just cause, so long we are in our vocation & in Gods protection: but when God openeth us a Gap to returne, and we will not through it, we are neither in our calling, nor Gods keeping, but must stand on our own adventures; and who knows not how slenderly we shall be kept, when we are left to our own custody: let not therefore Ioseph with his Wife and Son, tarry any longer in the Land of Egypt, when he is dead that sought the life of the Child.
Examples we have o… those, which in the dayes of Queen Mary, fled beyond the Seas; though they were not in a Paganish, onelyonly in a forraign Country, Mr. Scorey, Cocks, Whitehead, Grindall, Horne, Sandys, Elmore, Gest, Iewel; if fear lent them feet to run when they went away, joy gave them wings to fly when they came home againe: let none therefore pretend in needlesse excuses to linger in the Land of Egypt, when they may return into the hony-flowing Land of Canaan.
For she had heard in the Country of Moab.
I suppose when any Messenger arrived in M…ab, out of the Land of Canaan, Naomie did presently repaire unto him, and load him with questions concerning the estate of her Country: How do the Iews my Country-men? How faireth it with the Bethlehemites my Neig…bours? with Boaz my Kinsman? What is the rate of Corne? What the price of Oyle? What the value of Wine? if there be no performance for the present, what promise is there for the future? though things be bad now, what hope is there, but they will be better hereafter: Alas he answers little; and from his silence and sorrowfull looks, Naomi gathers a denial; but as Elijah sending his servant towards the Sea, to see what …igns there were of Raine,1 King. 18. 43. for six severall times together he returned this answer, There is nothing: but at the seventh time, he brought him the tydings of a Cloud rising out of the Sea; so though for nine years Naomi had no news but of want and scarcity; yet the tenth yeare there came a man (probably he was a good man that brought these good tydings) who brought her word that the valleys began to laugh and sing with plentie; and so though the hope that was deferred was the fainting of the heart, yet when it came, it was the Tree of life. Perchance because the coveto…s Jews had made nine parts great for their own profit, and the tenth small to cozen God of his portion: God quite contrary, gave them nine years of scarcity and want, and at length made the tenth of store and plenty.
Observ.
The fame of remarkable Accidents will fly into forraign Countries; for if it be bad news, the wicked will be sure to tell it in the Gates of Gath, and publish it in the streets of Askelon: if it be good, the godly will proclaim it in the Courts of Zion, and disperse it within the walls of Ierusalem; whether good or bad (if it be of moment and importance) it will not be covered nor concealed.
Question, Is it lawfull for us to lissen, hearken, and enquire after matters of forraigne Countries?
Answer, Though I would not have men to be like the Athenians, to hear or tell some new thing; yet it is both lawful and laudable for them to enquire after forraigne affairs, whereby they expresse the desire that they have of the welfare of their distant Brethren, the Members of the same mysticall body: Example, Nehe. 1. 2. And yet would I have men (though they lend their ears) not to bestow their beliefe on every groundlesse report which is blazed abroad.
1. Because Fame is often untrue, … lating 2 Sam. 13. That all the Kings Sonnes are kil'd, when onelyonly Amnon is slain,
2. Because many there be which with the Souldiers, Mat. 28. do nothing but invent and disperse lyes to gull over-credulous people: And as many a benighted Traveller hath wandred out of his way, whilst he followed for his lanthorn the Meteor of foolish fire; so many a man hath been deceived by embracing of lying relations, instead of true news. Yet in case that Cushai and Ahimaaz confirm the same thing, that variety of Messengers from divers places of sundry sides and severall factions, all agree in materiall and substantiall points; we ought not to be like unbelieving Thomas, to trust no more then our eyes have seen, but may rely on the truth of such relations, and ought accordingly to be affected with sorrow if the news be bad, or joy, if the tydings tend to the Churches good and Gods glory.
That God had visited his People.
This was the priviledge of the people of the Jews, that they were styled Gods people, but now Ammi is made Lo-Ammi, and Ruchama, Lo-ruchama; and we the Gentiles are placed in their roome, let us therefore remember the words of St. Paul; Rom. 11. 21. Be not high minded, but fear, for if God spared not the naturall branches of the Olive, fear that he will not spar… thee also.
O that he would be pleased to cast his eye of pitty upon the poor Jews, which for 1500. yeares and upwards have wandred without Law, without Lord, without Land, and as once they were, so once againe to make them his people.
In giving them bread.
By Bread, is meant all sustenance necessary for the maintaining of our lives, whereof bread is the chiefest. As the Temple of Dagon principally leaned on two Pillars, and fell to the ground when Sampson took them away, so the buildings of our bodies chiefly relyes on bread and water for outward sustenance, which being taken away, cannot but presently decay: let others therefore wish those dishes which curiosity hath invented, rather to encrease then satisfie hunger, which are more delightsome to the eye, then pleasing to the pallat; yet more pleasing to the pallat, then wholsome to the stomack; let us pray, Give us this day our daily bread.
Bread is a dish in every Course, without this can be no Feast, with this can be no Famine.
Observ.
Gods punishments though they last sometimes long, yet alwayes they end at last: and yet sometimes for the manifestation of his power, and tryall of his Childrens patience, he suffers them to be brought into great extremities: Abra…ams hand shall be heaved up to slay Isacc, before the Angell shall catch hold of it: Lazarus shall be three dayes dead before Christ will rayse him; the Ship readie to …inke, before our Saviour will awake; Peter must be drencht in the water, before our Saviour will keepe him from drowning; S. Paul must be in the Lyons mouth, before he shall be delivered out of it; the Famine must last ten yeare, before God will give them Bread.
An example hereof, wee have in our Neighbouring Churches of Germanie, which long have beene afflicted under the Tyrannie of their Oppressors; and now at length, a Sunne is risen out of the North; and after a long Night, …he Morning beginneth the Day: And thou Swethland shalt not be counted the meanest amongst the Kingdomes of Europ…; for out of thee did a Prince arise, who hath delivered the distressed Protestants; who at his first Landing, seemed to his Enemies an Obect fitter of their scorne then opposition; They thought our youthfull David too unequall a Match to coape with their Generall, who had bean a Man of Warre from his Youth. But as Veritie consisteth not in the pluralitie of Voy…s, so Victorie standeth not in the multitude of Souldiers; but God so ordered it, that he that had the best Cause, had the best succ…sse. I dare boldly say, that all the Protestant Princes and States of Germanie will be readie truly to say of him what Tertullus spake …latteringly of Felix, Act. 24. 2 Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietnesse, and that very worthy deeds are …one unto this Nation by thy providence, we alwayes▪ accept it, and in all places, most noble Prince, with all thankefulnesse. But let us turne our prayses of him into prayers for him, That he who hath conquered his Foes, may subdue himselfe▪ not to be puffed up with his good su…cesse. So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord; but let all them that love thee, be as the Sunne when he goeth forth in his might: And as ever I have earnestly desired, so now doe I stedfastly hope to see the Day, when our Naomi (our worthy Naomi, more fruitfull in Miseries then in Children, and in Vertue; then in both) shall arise, to returne out of the Land of Holland, with her Prince and Progenie, when she shall heare, that in the Land of Holland God hath visited the Palatinate, and given them rest.