Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 1 · Verse 18
Verſe. 18. When ſhee ſaw that ſhee was ſtedfaſtly minded to goe with her, then ſhe left off ſpeaking vntounto her.
HEre is the force and effect of Ruths reſolution vponupon Naomi, and withall the very drift of Naomi her ſpeeches to Ruth, concerning her going backe, only for triall of her conſtancie; which when ſhee ſaw, ſhee ceaſed to ſpeake thereof any more vntounto Ruth. So as here is to be noted: Firſt, the ſilence of Naomi. Secondly, the cauſe thereof. This is in the firſt place, the other followeth in the laſt words of the verſe.
When ſhe ſaw.] That is, when ſhe perceiued her full reſolution, then ſhe admitted of her fellowſhip, but not before; whence, and from whoſe wiſedome we learne, That the godly wiſe are warie in their admittance of others into their company, till they well know them. Wee ſee the wiſdome of Nehemiah, Chap. 6. 2, 11, 12. of Iacob, when Eſau offered him kindneſſe, and of Dauid towards Saul; though he both wept, and ſpake him faire, hee kept off from him; neither would our Sauiour commit himſelfe to all his followers, Ioh. 2. 24. for mans heart is deceitfull, and a ſhew may bee made of that, which is not in the heart indeede: therefore ſhould wee learne Chriſts counſell, to be as wiſe as Serpents, with a Doues innocencie, leſt like a well-meaning Gedaliah without ſuſpicion of euill in others, becauſe wee intend none euill in our ſelues, we periſh by hypocriticall Iſhmaels, Ier. 41. 6. Let vsus in theſe fraudulent times, trie, know, and ſo approue and admit, or diſlike and leaue men.
That ſhee was ſtedfaſtly minded to goe with her.] This is it which held Ruths ſtedfaſt ſpirit; ſhe was not of a light and vnſtable heart. But how ſavv Naomi this in her? By Ruths conſtant abyding by her promiſe expreſſing her minde, and by her ſolemne oath confirming the ſame promiſe. So then, words with an oath, and actions agreeing, ſufficiently may perſwade vsus of the ſtedfaſtneſſe of the heart, and the inward diſpoſition of the minde of ſuch as ſhew themſeules vertuous. And with this ſhould wee reſt ſatiffied, as Naomi doth here, as it followeth in the next words; for charity bindeth vsus to thinke the beſt of ſuch teſtimonies, of promiſes, oathes and actions concurring. True it is, that all theſe may be feigned: for wicked men will promiſe, ſweare, and in ſome ſort doe, but yet not ſo, as they bee free from guile therein: they will promiſe what they truly intend not; they will ſweare, to be the better credited, and leſſe diſtruſted, euen when they meane to deceiue, becauſe they feare not God; and in ſome things they will be doing, in ſuch things as may rather delude, than indeede effect what they pretend, but not what they ſecretly intend. Such Machiauellians, or rather matchleſſe villaines there bee in the world. But I ſpake before of ſuch as feare God, who are to be beleeued, when they take an oath to ſhew the truth of the heart, in that which they doe ſpeake. But that we may reſt ſatisfied with an oath, wee muſt obſerue theſe things in the party: firſt, ſee to his life, whether ſuch a one feare God; then, whether hee make conſcience of an oath, or be an ordinary ſwearer, not regarding an oath: and thirdly, what doth make him to ſweare, whether it be hope of gaine, ſome comming towards him, or feare, or ſome ſuddaine paſſion, and not a religious ground: as theſe concurre, ſo may wee beleeue, or doubt. The words tranſlated (was ſtedfaſtly minded) are in Hebrew, Shee ſtrengthened her ſelfe, to wit, by her oath. By which we may learne, that an oath is the ſtrengthening of the mind of him that ſweareth to doe that which he hath ſworne to doe; if it bee lawfull, and that the oath was not raſhly taken. Thus Eliſha ſtrengthned himſelfe not to leaue Eliah till he was taken vp; and Michaiah to performe faithfully his miniſterie, before and vntounto Ahab, when he came thither, where he was. And this is lawfull ſometime in great and weighty affaires. Wherein wee may feare the fainting of our hearts, then with prayer to God to vow our obedience, and if iuſt cauſe require, to vvitneſſe by oath our reſolution, as Ruth doth here, and the reſt before named. But when we hauehave ſworne lawfully, then let vsus looke to it, that we doe not breake it, Pſal. 15. Ioſh. 9. 19. for God will require it at our hands, except it be like Herods oath; it is then better broken, and to be repented of, rather than kept.
Then ſhe left ſpeaking vntounto her.] To wit, of her returning backe againe, and of willing her to goe after Orpha vntounto her owne Countrey and people; and ſhe left off, becauſe ſhe ſaw that Ruth was reſolued to go with her, without ſiniſter and by-reſpects, for that Ruth could not by ſuch reaſons as ſhe had laid before her, be made to depart from her, being an old poore woman and ſtranger, albeit Orpha did leaue her. So then hence note, that there is no reaſon to make further triall, where an honeſt, reſolution is, or may be well diſcerned: for this were folly, and alſo vncharitableneſſe, to call ſtill into queſtion that which is out of queſtion, and to ſuſpect an honeſt mind, which fully ſheweth it ſelfe, as far as it can for the preſent. Let vsus then learne this wiſdome, ſo to trie before we truſt, and then to truſt after ſound triall; for this is the end therof. Againe, where we ſee the mind ſettled to well-doing, let vsus not put it to further triall then neede is, leſt we doe weaken the parties faith, and bring the mind into wauering, but leaue him to his honeſt reſolution, Act. 21. 14. 1. Cor. 16. 12.