Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 4 · Verse 3
Verſe 3. And hee ſaid vntounto the kinſman, Naomi that is come againe out of the countrey of Moab, ſelleth a parcell of land which was our brother Elimelechs.
THus Boaz beginneth his ſpeech of the ſale of land, who it was that would ſell it, how much, a parcell, and to whom it did belong before, as thereby ſhewing her right vntounto it, not as an Inheritrix, but as a dowrie to her, as his wife.
And hee ſaid vntounto the kinſman.] Before Boaz vttered the cauſe of his comming into that Seſſion, hee ſaw all ſettled, and audience giuen: for though hee earneſtly affected the buſineſſe, as may appeare by that which hath beene deliuered of him in the former chapter, yet would he carry the matter wiſely and diſcretly: hereby teaching this, that the wiſedome of a wiſe man keepeth him ſo, as he is not carried beyond diſcretion: for wiſedomeProu. 14. 8. and 13. 10. and 13. 16. maketh him to vnderſtand his way, to bee alſo well aduiſed, to worke by vnderſtanding, and to order his wayes with diſcretion. Such therefore as bee ouer-ſwayed with any paſſion either of louelove, or anger, or what elſe exceeding diſcretion, want wiſedome at that time to bridle their diſordred affection, and vnruly paſſion, which is often bruitiſh, without reaſon, without Religion, and therefore vnbefitting a godly man. Note farther, that Boaz hauing a cauſe, he in this great Seſſion of ten Elders, beſides the reſt, declareth the matter himſelfe, it beeing a happy libertie in that Common-wealth. It was not like thoſe places, where men cannot bee allowed to ſpeake in their owne cauſe, though they bee neuer ſo able, but they muſt hire others to ſpeake for them: by which it commeth to paſſe, that cauſes are ſpunne out to an exceeding length, and not often faithfully handled: for men hired to ſet their wits and tongues on ſale, what will they not doe? Doth not our age produce enow euill, lamentable and curſed fruits hereof? And hauehave we not cauſe to bewaile the manifold miſchiefes and enſuing miſeries, which this generation of euill men bringeth forth daily among vsus?
Naomi that is come againe out of the countrey of Moab.] Of her perſon, and returne from that place, ſee before, Chap. 1. 6. Here ſhe is propounded as the ſales-woman: the land ſhe had by Elimelech her husband, as the laſt words of this verſe ſhew, as her ioynture or dowrie: for wiues had land among the Iewes and Iſraelites: and good 2. King. 8. 6.reaſon there is that wiues ſhould be prouided for by them, which hauehave lands to leaue them, becauſe they are one with the husband, they hauehave laboured together, and louelove binds the husband to hauehave care for her after death; for her comfort, her better eſteeme euen with her owne children: for if they hauehave any thing, then children will louelove and honour them, and glad will they ſeeme to be which of them may hauehave her companie, and may pleaſe her beſt: but if ſhe hauehave nothing, they will bee as glad, which may be rid of her. Therefore let husbands hauehave a care to prouide for them, and not bee like ſome husbands, which giuegive all or moſt to children, and little or nothing to wiues, but what Law will giuegive them: and that he may ſo doe, let the wife labour to deſerue well of the husband; and yet though ſhee deſerue well, let him not giuegive all to her, and little to children, as ſome doe, and ſo vndoe both her ſelfe and children with an after-choiſe of a bad husband.
Selleth a parcell of land.] That is, determineth to ſell a portion or piece of land left her by Elimelech. Shee was growne poore, and therefore might ſell her land: for ſo we doe reade, that the Leuit. 25. 25, 29.poore might ſell land or houſes: and this ſelling and buying is lawfull, as wee may ſee by Gods approbation,Gen. 23. and the practice of the godly in buying and ſelling. The manner of purchaſe, and ſale, and conueyance is ſhewed in the Prophecie ofIer. 32. 6, 44. Ieremie: it muſt be without oppreſſion: and thisLeuit. 25. 14. will bee auoided, if men feare God. But the Lord allowed not the ſale but vponupon neceſſity; hee muſtLeuit. 25 25. become poore firſt. The Iewiſh Interpreters vponupon that place of Leuiticus ſay, that no man but the poore might ſell his inheritance; other might not ſell to put money in their purſes, to make marchandize, or other things, ſaue onelyonly for food and neceſſary liuelihood. How iuſtly then are here condemned among vsus, ſuch as ſell their lands for to ſpend at play, to runne a whoring, to goe gayly, and in coſtly rayment, to keepe Hawkes and Hounds, to trauell into Idolatrous countreys to ſee faſhions, and to learne, not good manners, but bad conditions with Apiſh cōplements? Others alſo which ſell their poſſeſſions, becauſe they would liue idly, to put the money out to vſurie, and ſo liue lazily, but yet curſedly, vponupon the ſweate of other mens browes. Theſe and the other ſhould ſay with Nbaoth, God forbid that I ſhould ſell my fathers inheritance, eſpecially ſelling as theſe doe, to beſtow and lay out the mony ſo accurſedly. But let ſuch Vnthriſts know, which ſell their land to waſte vponupon their luſt, that they doe wickedly rob their poſterity, they weaken their preſent eſtate, they bring vponupon themſelues beggery, and ſo contempt and miſery, and that very iuſtly, and do (as much as lieth in them) roote out their names from the places, where their Anceſtours, by Gods bleſſing, had planted them; and when all is ſpent, they expoſe themſelues to many temptations, to take lewd courſes to helpe themſelues, which bring many to a ſhamefull end. Let them remember, that if they cannot liue with their eſtates, how can they liue without them? Paines they cannot take, they hauehave idly beene brought vp; which often is the cauſe of this prodigality: to beg they bee aſhamed, becauſe of reproach iuſtly to light vponupon them; therefore muſt they fall to ſtealing, and ſo come that way into the Magiſtrates hands, that they may be puniſhed for their former villanies, which the Magiſtrate took no notice of, or made no conſcience to puniſh.
Which was our brother Elimelechs.] Thus Boaz calleth him, who was but his kinſman, though neere. This was vſuall among the Iewes and Iſraelites ſo to call one another; yea, it is obſeruable, that Gods people in all ages hauehave called one another brethren; before the Law, vnderunder the Law,Gen. 14. 14. Exod. 2. 11. Leuit. 19. 17. Deut. 13. 19. Rom. 1. 13. Mat. 6. Gal. 4. 26. 1. Pet. 2. 17. Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1. 1. Theſ. 4. 9. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. and in the time of the Goſpell; and good reaſon ſo to do: for they hauehave all one Father, and all one Mother: Which ſhould teach vsus brotherly louelove one towards another; to louelove as brethren, that is, with reſpect to our Father, and wee his adopted Children: for whoſo after this manner loueth, is tranſlated from death to life. Alſo ſuch as louelove like brethren, are familiar, they hauehave a feeling of each others eſtate both in proſperity and aduerſity, reioycing or ſorrowing, as it falleth out, and that becauſe they be brethren; they doe alſo ſhew readineſſe to helpe one another, as brethren ſhould doe, and they hold it a ſhame to do them wrong. Therefore let vsus louelove, and louelove as brethren, and try it by theſe true brother-like markes of louelove: which if a man doe, hee ſhall find little brotherly louelove among men: for few louelove a man in this reſpect, as he is the Child of God: few are familiar with the vertuous for their vertues ſake: And who mourneth with them in the true cauſe of their mourning, or reioyceth with them in their ioy? If men ſo doe, where is their helping hand to further their ioy, or to helpe them when they be troubled for righteouſneſſe ſake?