Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 2 · Verse 21
Verſe 21. And Ruth the Moabiteſse ſaid, He ſaid vntounto me alſo, Thou ſhalt keepe faſt by my yong men, vntill they hauehave ended all my harueſt.
RVTH here relateth Boaz further kindneſſe, both what, and how long, to gleane in his field after his Reapers, as in the eighth verſe, and that vntounto the end of harueſt.
And Ruth the Moabiteſse ſaid, He ſaid vntounto me alſo, Thou ſhalt keepe faſt by my yong men.] When Ruth perceiued the ioy of Naomi for this kindneſſe of Boaz, ſhe goeth on to relate further teſtimonie of his louelove, and it is as if ſhee had ſaid, Boaz did not onelyonly thus with me, as thou my mother haſt heard and ſeene, but which is more, He willed me to continue with his ſeruants till harueſt be ended. Where we ſee, that where praiſes of others are well taken, it maketh the Relater to expreſſe more fully their goodneſſe. And therefore to incourage men to giuegive others their due praiſes, let vsus receiue willingly the relation of their vertues and graces. For ſuch is our corruption, that we can attend to ill reports, which makes many ſo ready to ſpeake ill of others. I wiſh our eares open in the other reſpect, but in this I would we were more dull of hearing. Three reaſons may be giuen of the relation of this kindneſſe to Naomi. One may be this, to ſet out Boaz praiſes, and to ſhew his kindneſſe to the full, euen as ſhe found it. If ſo, then we learne, that thankefull perſons conceale nothing of others kindneſses either in word or deed that may tend to their iuſt commendations: and thus thankefull ſhould wee be. This thankfulneſſe is an excellent vertue commended in Scripture, and practiſed of the godly, as before is noted: and on the contrary, ingratitude is odious, and cauſeth vncharitableneſſe in giuing, becauſe the poore take not thankfully their almes; in lending alſo, & that either not at all, for that men be ſo diſhoneſt, that they will not repay what they owe, or deferre to pay in due time, or not freely, but for gaine, becauſe men would benefit themſelues by other mens money, but will not willingly requite it without compact aforehand. And thus we ſee the euill of ingratitude. The other reaſon may be, to know her mothers pleaſure therein, and how ſhee liked of it to goe ſtill into Boaz fields. If this, then we may learne, that children are to take aduice of their parents in their courſes, ſo ſeruants of their maſters: for, this is to giuegive them honour; alſo an acknowledging themſelues to be at their diſpoſing, and not their owne men, and it will free them from blame, when things, perhaps, fall out croſſely. It is a fault for ſuch to runne on an head, as beſt pleaſeth themſelues: this is diſorder, and vnrulineſſe not ſufferable: this is headineſſe condemned by the Apoſtle, and much2. Tim. 3. 4. Gen. 26. 35. & 34. 1. and 21. 25, 26. euill hath come hereby; ſee it in Eſau his marriages; in Dinah her wandering; in Simeon and Leui their cruelty; in Abimelechs contentious ſeruants, and Lots ſeruants; thoſe might hauehave bred heartburning betweene Abimelech and Abraham, as theſe diuided Abraham and Lot aſunder: heady and vnruly children and ſeruants may do a great deale of miſchiefe; they are therefore to be aduiſed, and to follow aduice. The third reaſon may be, to ſhew her mother in law, where ſhee might with good profit continue to gleane, and alſo of her willingneſſe therefore to continue in that labour. If ſo, then we ſee that the fruit of our labour, gaine and commodity, doth ſpurre on the diligent to continue therein. Therefore pray for a bleſſing to be incouraged in paines-taking; and feeling the fruit, continue therein.
Vntill they hauehave ended all my harueſt.] They had a barley and wheat harueſt, both here meant, as is plaine in verſe the 23. Theſe words vntill they hauehave made an end,] ſhew ſome length of his harueſt, and his conceit of Ruths painfulneſſe, that ſhee would continue to the end, and not giuegive off after a day or two: they note alſo his louelove and mercy to the poore widdowes. And laſtly, they ſet forth his equitie and true liberality, that graunted her freedome in his owne, and not in other mens fields. What further may be obſerued from hence, ſee before in the eighth verſe, where the matter is handled; here onelyonly is the relation of her liberty vntounto her mother in law. In all which ſpeech it is worthy the noting, that ſhee ſpeaketh not a word of Boaz great commendations of her owne ſelfe, verſe the 11. Which commendeth to vsus in her, modeſtie, that is, to paſſe ouer our owne praiſes: which is an example for our imitation, that we might not be condemned of vainglory, and to bee ſuch as be in louelove with themſelues, as thoſe be, which louelove to tell of their owne vertues.