Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 2 · Verse 16
Verſ. 16. And let fall alſo ſome of the handfuls of purpoſe for her, and leaue them, that ſhe may gleane them, and rebuke her not.
BOaz ſpeech continued to his ſeruants, touching his liberality towards Ruth, who thought it not enough to let her gleane among the ſheaues (for that he knew ſhe would not filch nor ſteale out of them,) but he commandeth his ſeruants, that they ſhould of purpoſe let fall handfuls for her to gather, and not rebuke her for ſo doing. So here is Boaz charge, with the end why, and alſo a forbidding of them to rebuke her.
And let fall alſo ſome of the handfuls of purpoſe for her.] As they reaped, they cut by handfuls, and thereof made ſheaues, of which handfuls they ſhould let ſome fall, as they were reaping, or elſe ſome of them, as they were binding vp the ſheaues, which is the more likely. Howſoeuer it was, we may note, I. That a mercifull man and a godly man is frank-hearted to the godly poore, ſuch as bee painefull and deſerue louelove. This is euident in Boaz, whoſe mercifull kindneſſe is many wayes ſet forth; hee ſpake to her in a louing appellation, calling her, Daughter; he admitted her to his table, as one of his family; he praiſed her vertues, and prayed for her; he bound his ſeruants to the good behauiour towards her, to preuent iniurie which might be offered to her; and hee alſo did giuegive to her, and that both freely without asking, and largely without niggardly ſparing. Now a good man is mooued, as Boaz to this, becauſe hee conceiueth the miſerie of another with a fellow-feeling; hee placeth himſelfe in their ſtead, and conſidereth his own frailtie, the worlds mutabilitie, and that he may ſtand in need, if God ſhould lay his hand vponupon him: laſtly, he knoweth that God loueth a cheerefull giuer. Therefore here let vsus in our charitie towards the godly, imitate this bleſſed Boaz, ſhew our louelove in words, in deeds, in doing good, in preuenting euill eueryevery way; and what wee doe, to doe it freely, and bountifully. Many will not giuegive, as being altogether mercileſſe: but let them remember the threatning of Iames. Many wil giuegive,Iames 2. 13. but not largely, nor freely without importuning, though they be able, and their brethren ſtand in need. II. Note, that ſeruants are not to giuegive what is their Maſters, without his warrant: for Boaz here alloweth them to giuegive her; and without this warrant, it had not been lawfull for them to hauehave thus left her handfuls of corne: for ſeruants are but truſted with, or amongſt their Maſters goods; they are not diſpoſers of them; the diſpoſing is at the pleaſure of the Owner, and not of the ſeruants, which hauehave no right in them at all. Thoſe ſeruants therefore which will take vponupon them to giuegive of their Maſters goods, vnderunder pretence of charity, or what elſe, are to be reproued: for it is theft ſo to doe, without the will of theGen. 31. 33. Owner; and the gift ſo giuen, vnderunder what ſhew ſoeuer, is not acceptable to God: for men muſt giuegive of their owne, and not be liberal vponupon other mens eſtates.
And leaue them that ſhe may gleane them.] Here it may be asked, Why did not Boaz rather giuegive her a quantitie of corne, and ſo ſend her home, rather then to let her abide in the fields to gleane? Becauſe he would ſo relieue her, as yet hee would keepe her in labour, and not maintaine her in idleneſſe. And this is the beſt charitie, ſo to relieue the poore, as we keepe them in labour. It benefits the giuer, to hauehave them labour; it benefits the common-weale, to ſuffer no Droanes, nor to nouriſh any in idleneſſe; and it benefits the poore themſelues, it keepes them in health, it diſcouers them to bee idle or painefull; if painefull, it procureth them fauour: and laſtly, it keepeth them from idleneſſe, and ſo from a ſea of wickedneſſe, which the lazie perſons are ſubiect to, and run into, as the vagrant poore giueth vsus ſufficiently to know, which dwell among vsus, or rather rogue vp and downe without dwelling, or certaine abode. Let therefore men thus relieue the poore with Boaz; and if men would ſpare from exceſſe of apparell, daintie fare, idle expences in keeping Hawkes and Hounds, in following vnthriftie gaming, and ſuch like, and lay vp that to charitable vſes, to ſet the poore on worke, what ſingular good might be done! the poore would ceaſe to complaine, and the rich themſelues would be better for it.
And rebuke her not.] This caueat he addeth, that they might not think his command, To let fall handfuls, was for triall of her; but that ſhee ſhould carry away what they ſhould ſo let fall, without check. Before, hee warned them not to reproch her, by giuing her ill language; and here hee will not hauehave her to ſuffer rebuke at their hands, for taking what he ſhall allow her: for the ſeruant is not to find fault with any perſon, for receiuing his Maſters kindneſſe: he may diſpoſe of his owne, and the ſeruant is not to diſlike with it, in checking the receiuer, in whom there is no cauſe of rebuke, but rather in the euill eye of the ſeruant,Matth. 02. 15. as our Sauiour ſheweth in the parable of the Vineyard.