nble to sny in her heart, 11 Farewell, Malehorn I Farewell, Chemosh I Farewell Moab I Welcome, Israel I Welcome, Canaan I Welcome, Bethlehem I" (Fuller)'. 6. She 'Wi~nes9ed a ~oo~ an~ most noble confe~sion of love and devotedness (see vers. 16, 11). She said, Insist not on me forsaking thee ; for whither thou goest I will go; wheresoever thou l?dgest,_I will _lodge; thy people is my people, and thy God my God: where thou d1est, will I die, and there will I be buried. So mav Yahveh do to me, and still more, i.£ aught but death part thee and me." "Nothing,;' says Matthew Henry, 11 could be said more fine, more brave." "Truly," says Dr. Kitto, 11 the simple eloquence of the mouth that speaks out of tho abundance of the heart never found more beautiful and touching expression than in these words of this young widow" (' Daily Bible-Illustrations'). "Her vow," says S. Cox, "has sta'!1ped it.se~ on the very heart o~ the 'vrnrld i and tl~at ~ot because of the beauty of its form simply, though even m our English vers10n 1t sounds like a sweet and noble music, but because it expresses in n worthy form, and once for all the utter devotion of a genuine and self-conquering love. It is the spirit which informs and breathes through these melodious words that make them so precious to us 1 and that also renders it impossible to utter any fitting comment on them " (' Book of Ruth ' pp. 72, 73). Be it borne in mind that something of the same enthusiasm of lov~ that dwelt in the heart of Ruth, should be found in the centre of every horne. Wber~ soever a heart is swayed and dominated by the might and mastery of a great affection, the entire character becomes clothed with mingled dignity and beauty. II. THE ENTRY OF THE TWO WIDOWS INTO BETHLEHEM. There was no more talk, no more thought, of turning back. The hearts of the two widows were locked together for ever. Hence they travelled on from stage to stage, until, worn and wearied, they entered Bethlehem. 1. Note the effect on the citizens, especially the female portion of them (see ver. 19). Naomi, passing along through the streets, was recognised. The news flew from individual to individual, from house to house, from lane to lane. There was a running to and fro of excited mothers and maidens. All were eager to see the returned emigrant, and her pensive Moabitish companion. Her old acquaint- ances, in particular, when they bad seen and identified her, broke up into groups, and talked, and said, Is that Naomi? That, Naomi I Is this Naomi? This, Naomi I " So unlike is the rose when it is withered to what it was when it was blooming." 2. Note the effect on Naomi herself. As she looked on old scenes, and witnessed the excitement and commotion of old neighbours and acquaintances, her heart felt over- whelmed within her, and she said to the sympathising friends who clustered around her, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me " ( see vers. 20, 21 ). But it surely will be permitted to us not only to mingle our tears with those of the afflicted widow, but likewise to pause reverently ere we unreservedly accept or endorse her attribution of all her trials and woes to the band and heart of the Lord. It should nevertheless be borne in mind that even those trials that come most directly from men's own acts or choices come to pass by the per- mission of the Almighty, and are so overruled by him that they will be made to work for good to them who love him (Rom. viii. 28).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.
Vers. 16-18.-Constancy. For simple pathos and unstudied eloque~c~1 this la~- guage is unsurpassed. " One touch of nature makes the wh?le world km. . H~re 1s the fervent outpouring of a true heart. Love and resolution are at their height. Thousands of human sou.ls have expressed their mutual attachment in these words. Thej are not words of extravagance or of passion, b!1t of feeling, of principle, of & fixed and changeless mind. Constancy muHt be admired, even by the mconstant. I. THERE WERE INFLUENCES OPPOSED TO RUTH'S CONSTANCY. 1. Early associations and friendships would have tied her to Moab. 2. The entreaty of Naomi that she would return set her perfectly free to do so, if she bad been ~ispoeed. 3. The example of her sister-in-law, Orpah, could not but have some we1~ht. Orpab had been like Ruth kind alike to the living and the dead, yet she wept, kissed her mother- in-la~\', and returned. 4. The religion of her childhood could scarcely have been (Jtl, 1. 15---22.] THE BOOK OF RUTH. 23