Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 3 · Verse 15 – Verse 17
Verſe 15. Alſo hee ſaid, Bring the vaile that thou hast vponupon thee, and hold it. And when ſhee held it, hee meaſured ſix meaſures of Barley, and laid it on her: and ſhee went into the Citie.
HEre is Boaz his liberality and teſtimonie of louelove, nothing wherein it was receiued, what and how much hee gaue, his helping her vp with it to conuay and carry it away. And laſtly, his and her departure into the citie.
Alſo hee ſaid.] Boaz his former ſpeech was for her credit, but this is for her comfort; the former ſtood in words, but this in a good work of mercy. A good mans louelove appeareth in word and in deed, in good counſell, and in good works of comfort alſo This ſheweth louelove to bee perfect, not feigned; this is to follow the Apoſtle Iohn his exhortation,1. Iohn 3. 18. not to louelove in word and tongue onelyonly, but in deed and in truth: ſo loued Boaz, and ſo doe all bleſſed men louelove. If therefore the louelove of worke bee wanting, and onelyonly the louelove of word, it is counterfeit louelove, and Saint Iames reiecteth it, asIam. 2. no louelove.
Bring the vaile that thou hast vponupon thee, and hold it.] He tooke occaſion from this looſe vaile, to beſtow corne vponupon her: for a good man, in his willingneſse to do good, will take the ſmallest occaſiō to ſhew it. This word vaile in another place is tranſlatedEſai. 3. 22. mantle. It was a looſe garment caſt vponupon her, to keepe her warme, and to couer her in the night. There was vſed alſo among them another vaile for the day, to throw ouer their heads and faces for modeſtie ſake: ſuch an one had faire Rebecca, Gen. 24. 65.whoſe modeſtie may condemne the wanton going of our women, who yet come ſhort of Rebecca for beauty. I wiſh alſo they were not more ſhort of her for honeſty. The Arabian women, yea & ſo the heathen Romane women went couered, as doe now the women in Spaine, not halfe naked, as many harlotries doe now in England, to the ſhame of Religion, and diſgrace of the Goſpell, hauing both heathen and Papiſts to condemne them. But what care ſuch for the Goſpell, which want grace? or for Religion, which are of none at all, and neuer yet had their conſciences bound to the obedience thereof, but liue as Libertines, doing what they liſt, walking after the luſt of their owne hearts.
And when ſhee held it.] This implieth ſome ſtay till ſhee had folded it, to receiue his kindneſſe: for he that mindeth truely to doe the poore good, can bee content to ſtay till they can bee ready to receiue it. Boaz was not like ſuch as ſeeme to be willing to giuegive the poore a penny, and yet will be gone before hee can open his purſe to change the niggards ſiluer: ſo they blame his not readineſſe to receiue what they onelyonly pretended, but neuer from heart intended: ſo lewdly deluding the poore. Boaz had ſhewed her great kindneſſe before, which ſhee receiued, and now hee offers her this mercy againe, which ſhee refuſeth not. For it is no vnmannerlineſse, nor diſgrace, to take kindneſse offred of friends, though the parties before hauehave beene chargeable, and hauehave often receiued of their bountie; ſo long as the one ſort be able, and voluntarily doe giuegive, and the other bee poore, and not importunate yet ſtanding in need to receiue: for pouerty is a heauie burthen, and may iuſtly make excuſe for them. And therefore ſuch are not to bee blamed, which do not refuſe the often offred bounties of friends: but indeed, ſuch as need not, and will bee chargeable to frank-hearted friends, ſuch are baſely couetous, and deſerue reproofe, rather then to hauehave their deſire.
Hee meaſured ſix meaſures of Barley.] Boaz had giuen much before by his ſeruants: now, by his owne hand: yet not at randome, taking out of the heape, hee knew not what; but he meaſured that to her which hee gaue her. Whence note from his perſon ſtill giuing vntounto Ruth, and in her to Naomi: that a liberall and mercifull heart is not weary of well-doing. Cornelius a good and deuout man, gaue daily much almes vntounto the poore: for his ſoule delighteth in mercy and workes of charity, and deſiring to bee rich in good workes, as1. Tim. 6. the Apoſtle exhorteth. Theſe examples let vsus imitate and follow, wee muſt not bee wearie of2. Theſ. 3. 13. Gal. 6. 9, 10. Iam. 2. wel-doing; and if we hauehave faith, we will ſhew forth good workes, if it bee liuely and not dead faith. They are therefore reproueable, who bee wearie of well-doing; they would giuegive once, but not often, neither at any time much: and yet wee beg bread at Gods hands daily, and repine if wee hauehave it not, and not onelyonly for the preſent, but for the time to come. It is noted of Titus Sueton. Tit.Veſpaſian, that hee thought he had loſt that day, in which he had not performed ſome office of beneficence. Few Chriſtians think as this Heathen thought: for then would our great men giuegive more, and ſpend leſſe vainely, that the poore might fare the better. Another ſort are heere faultie, who continue to giuegive now and then, but are loth to encreaſe their liberality, as God encreaſethDeut. 8. 18. Oſ…a 2. 8. his bounty in mercy towards them: for if they grow rich, it is hee that giueth them power to get riches. The third ſort are ſuch as turne their louelove wholely to themſelues, and thinke all little enough for themſelues, and that through baſe couetouſneſſe, being neuer ſatisfied, ſo as they liue of vſurie and oppreſſion, getting from others what they can; or through an aſpyring ſpirit, getting goods to grow great in the world; or elſe of a vaine vnthriftie humour of ſpending, can ſpare nothing to giuegive to the poore; becauſe his conſuming gueſts, (which euer lodge with him) whoredome, drunkenneſſe, pride, and louelove of play, doe keepe him ſtill ſo bare of money. Another leſſon may we learne hence, frō Boaz his manner of giuing by meaſure, and not hand ouer head, as wee ſay, without diſcretion, that Liberality is not lauiſh of Gods bleſsings, giuing in iudgemēt, and not without conſideration: for eueryevery vertue either is, or ſhould be guided with prudence. This diſcretion in Boaz is commendable; and they that will conſider what they giuegive, before they giuegive, in ſo doing, are not to be reproued.
And laid it on her.] See how a willing Giuer doth not onelyonly bestow a benefit, but helpeth the party if need be, to receiue the ſame: & ſo doth Boaz here; and ſo doth alſo our gracious God in giuing his bleſſings to vsus. If wee then bee willing to doe a good turne, and to beſtow a fauour vponupon any, let vsus not bee wanting in any needfull thing, to further our owne liberalitie towards them: for this will ſhew, that what wee giuegive, wee giuegive with all our hearts vntounto them.
And ſhe went into the citie.] Our laſt Tranſlation is, ſhee went: but it ſhould be hee, as the Hebrew word will make good, and the teſtimony of the Learned in that tongue: both went into the citie,Junius. Druſius. Lauater. ſhee to her mother, as the next words in the Story do ſhew, which by reaſon of the continuation and ſeries of the narration, maketh it ſeeme moſt likely that ſhee went into the city, as it is commonly tranſlated; and he likewiſe went into the city to diſpatch the buſineſſe, and to do what hee had promiſed to Ruth, as it is cleare in the next Chapter. By thus reading it, and by conſidering how Boaz before could lye downe by the corne, but now out of his affection to marry with Ruth, can leaue all, to finiſh that buſineſſe, wee may learne, that louelove is impatient of delay, and maketh a man to lay aſide other cares, to enioy his beloued. Concerning the force of this affection, ſee it in Samſon to the maiden of Timnah; in Iacob to Rachel; Iud. 14. 2, 3. Gen. 29. 20, 30. and 34. 3. 8, 12, 19.and in Sichem to Dinah: for louelove winneth the whole man, and captiuateth his thoughts to the partie beloued, as may alſo be ſeen in Samſons Iud. 16. 4, 16. 2. Sam. 13. 2, 4.inordinate louelove to Delilah; and in Amnon to Tamar. Seeing this affection is ſo ſtrong, let vsus labour to bridle it, that it rule not ouer vsus for the world or the fleſh; and for this end let vsus ſet it vponupon better things worthy our louelove to the vtmoſt, euen on ſpirituall and heauenly things, vponuponCol. 3. 1. Cant. 1. 2, 3, 7, and 2. 14. Pſal. 119. Heb. 11. 2. Tim. 4. 8. Chriſt, as the Spouſe in the Canticles did, and Saint Paul; on his Word, as Dauid; on his Church, as Moſes did; and on the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt for our finall deliuerance, as all ſhould: thus to fixe our louelove, will make it holy, and our ſelues happy.
Verſe 16. And when ſhee came to her mother in law, ſhee ſaid, Who art thou, my daughter? And ſhe told her all that the man had done vntounto her.
RVths returne from the floore to Naomi, where a queſtion is asked and anſwered, with a full relation of all that which had happened.
And when ſhe came to her mother in law.] Ruth hauing ſped, as you heare, and receiued ſuch kindneſſe for the preſent, and ſuch hope for the time to come, home ſhe goeth with a glad heart, and that without delay; ſhee hath not her bywalkes, but hauing done what ſhee went about, according to the aduice of Naomi, ſhee, as I ſaid, returneth home againe. Three things might moue Ruth to haſten home: the danger of the way, being ſo earely before day; the burthen which ſhee bare vponupon her backe, to bee eaſed thereof; and her ioy to impart to her mother her happy ſucceſſe. As theſe made her hie home, and to deſire to bee with her mother: ſo ſhould the like make vsus deſirous to bee at our home in Heauen: firſt, the danger we be in, while here we liue in this darke world; then, the burthen of ſinne, which wee doe beare, of which we ſhould be weary, and grone till wee bee deliuered: and thirdly, our inward ioy conceiued of our future happineſſe for euer and for euer.
Who art thou, my daughter?] So Naomi ſpeaketh, becauſe it was not yet day, that ſhee might know her, and therefore asketh who ſhee was. It may ſeeme by this, that Naomi her houſe was neither bolted nor barred, Ruth comming in ſo eaſily, and Naomi not knowing, who it was at the firſt: for poore folkes need feare no robbing.
And ſhee told her all that the man had done vntounto her.] That is, ſhee related all his kind ſpeeches, and his promiſe of marrying of her, if the other kinſman did refuſe her, as appeareth by Naomi her ſpeech in the 18. verſe: ſo that done is here put for his word and promiſe which ſhould be done: which argueth her perſwaſion that he would doe it. And it is an excellent promiſe of a man to be held ſo faithfull, that his promiſe may bee ſaid to bee done, for the certaintie thereof before it bee done. A rare vertue in theſe daies, euen among thoſe that would be held no common Proteſtants. Where almoſt is hee, of whom it might be ſaid, when he hath promiſed, that it is done? where is mans faithfulneſſe become? Mint, Anniſe, and Cummine is ſtood vponupon; but iudgement, mercy, and faith, the weightier matters of the Law are omitted. Naomi asketh Ruth who ſhe was? Who anſwereth not to that, but forthwith relateth Boaz his kindneſſe with which her mind was taken vp: for we ſpeedily relate ſuch things as our hearts be delighted in, and much taken vp with: for of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh, whether it be cauſe of ioy or ſorrow. If then wee would ſpeake of a matter, let our hearts bee affected therewith; that will make vsus ſpeake readily, and neglect other conference: many cannot ſpeake of God nor Religion; and ſome that can, will not, deſire not: the reaſon is, their hearts are not affected therewith; for if they were, they would be very ready to ſpeake thereof.
Verſe 17. And ſhee ſaid, Theſe ſixe meaſures of Barley gaue hee mee: for hee ſaid to mee, Goe not emptie vntounto thy mother in law.
THe laſt words of Ruth in this Booke, as here to Naomi alſo, ſhewing who it was that gaue the corne, and for whoſe ſake.
And ſhe ſaid, Theſe ſixe meaſures of Barley gaue he me.] Before, Ruth telleth of his good words; and here ſhee ſheweth his good workes: for good words and good workes euer concurre where true louelove is, elſe it is feigned: of which I hauehave ſpoken before. In that Ruth doth bring home all that which was giuen to her mother, and kept nothing backe, to buy her ſelfe any neceſſaries, by making ſale thereof, it teacheth children honeſtie: for honest children will not rob their parents of any thing, as Micah did, who ſtole eleuen hundred ſhekles ofIud. 17. 1, 2. ſiluer from his mother, which cauſed her bitterly to curſe him, till it was reſtored to her againe. Good children will not doe ſo wickedly, though other thinke it no tranſgreſſion, as Salomon Prou. 28. 24.ſpeaketh.
For he ſaid to me, Goe not emptie vntounto thy mother in law.] Ruth telleth why Boaz was ſo liberall, not for her ſake onelyonly, but for Naomi her ſake alſo, and that chiefely in this kindneſſe to her. Ruth taketh not this to her ſelfe, concealing Boaz his louing reſpect to Naomi, as if all had beene done in fauour of her owne ſelfe, bringing it to Naomi as a token of her louelove to her, thereby thinking to bind her the more vntounto her by that office: but preſenting it as a fauour from Boaz vntounto her alſo, relateth the truth of the thing as it paſſed. By which wee may obſerue, that true and honest minds are iust in all their relations, in that which they doe know, without colour, without deceit: for they louelove truth, and doe ſpeake it from ſimplicitie of heart, which is the propertie of thePſal. 15. 2. godly, and which wee muſt labour for. Againe, the true and honest-minded ſeeke not to procure fauour and thankes by that which is the bountie of another, as many doe in diſtributing the almes and beneuolence of others, as if it were from themſelues, ſeeking to reape that which they ſowed not, and to receiue, which they deſerue not. Thirdly note, that Boaz forgets not Naomi abſent: for a faithfull friend is mindfull of ſuch as hee loueth, though abſent. Ebedmelech the Morian loued Ieremie, he therefore forgot him not, though out of ſight, out of the Court, and now in a miſerable priſon, but went boldly to the King for him, and reproued the Lords and Princes openlyIer. 38. 9. Dan. 6. for doing that wrong to Ieremie. Darius affected Daniel, and therefore could not be vnmindfull of him. This is true friendſhip, and not like the louelove of ſuch, of whom it may bee ſaid, Out of ſight, out of minde, like the vnkind and forgetfull Butler of Pharaoh, who for a long ſpace forgot innocent Ioſeph, who interpreted to him his dreame in priſon, and that to his great comfort: of whom he alſo prayed to be remembred, when he came to his place againe; but the Butler was ſo glad of his owne proſperity, that hee had no mind to thinke of Ioſephs aduerſitie. Such is the louelove of men, too common in theſe dayes; much kindneſſe in ſhew to mens faces, but if the backe be once turned, louelove is likewiſe turned, and quite vaniſhed away.