" All my trust on tliee is stayed ; All my help from thee I bring ; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of thy wing." 5. Just as Boaz WllB turning to complete the supervision of his harvest-field, Ruth, with delicate acknowledgments for the past, prefers a humble request for the future. "May I continue, sir, to find favour in thine eyes ; for indeed thou hast comforted me, and cheered the heart of thine handmaid, and yet I have not the position of one of thy maidens 11 (ver. 13). Thus from one to the other, under the impulse of some 1;ubtle spontaneity, was the shuttle of respectful feeling shot and re-shot. 6. The scene is now shifting. The two separate. Boaz proceeds to attend to the various details of his husbandry. Ruth returns to the monotony of her gleaning. Both exhibit a worthy example of painstaking industry. 7. Time advances. The worli- proceeds. The sun hastens towards its zenith. The hour for siesta is at hand. Boaz turns once more in the direction of Ruth. He rejoins her, and invites her to accompany him to the place of temporary shelter, refreshment, and rest. "At meal- time Boaz said to her, Come along hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar 11 (ver. 14). All the workers-but of course not the gleaners-assemble around the master. Ruth is seated among the rest, and is carefully attended to. "She sat beside the reapers : and Boaz prepared for her a bunch of parched corn, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left over 11 (ver. 14). Then there is more work. Boaz gives still more liberal instructions to the young men, "Even between the sheaves let her glean, and do not affront her" (ver. 15). "And even of set purpose draw out for her from the bundles, and leave them, and let her glean them, and do not find fault with her" (ver. 16). At length, at the close of the day, Ruth gathered her bundles together, and threshed them, and found that she had about an ephah of barley-as much as a woman could be expected to carry. Thus is the dawn of Ruth's prosperity growing brighter and brighter, and giving promise of a day that shall be as "the bridal of the earth and sky." The Lord is "recompensing her work." The shadows are fleeing. " As morning in the east, Stanas winged to mount in day, So for a swift surprise of joy Our God prepares his way" (Gibbons). So assuredly "'ill there be a corresponding dayspring from on high to all who, in the midst of thickening trials, maintain their integrity, and engage in "works of faith" and "labours of love." There may be, there will be, differences in the degree of prosperity and reward, even as star di.ffereth from ~tar in magnitude and lustre. It is not to be expected that all shall have such reversions on earth as were granted to Job and to Ruth. Nevertheless, none will be forgotten. Every several blade of grass will have it.a own drop of dew. Love on the part of man will be crowned with love on the part of God. And when love rises to Jesus,_ the ide~l Son of ma!1, then it is capped with more love ; for, says he, "my Father will love 1nm, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him" (John xiv. 23). All three will" sup together" (Re~. iii. 20). "Sorrow and sighing will flee away."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 15-17.-Li,berality to the poor. The customs recorde~ in the~e chapters remain- many of them -to the present day. As to gleaning, Robmson says, " The way led us through open fields, where the people were in the midst of the wheat-harvest. The beautiful tracts of grain were full of reapers of the Henft.dy Arabs, and also of gleaners almost_ as numerous. The~e w~re mo~tly women ; a~d this department seemed almost as 1IDportant as the reaping itself, smce the latter IB done in so slovenly a manner, that not only much falls to the ground, but also many stalks remain uncut. In one field nearly 200 reapers and gleaners were at work, the latter being nearly as numerous as the former." As to tliresliing, Robinson mentiona CIH, II. 10-17.] THE BOOK OF RUTH. 41
that "several women were beating out with a stick handfuls of the grain which they eeemed to have gleaned." As to the parcliing of corn, the same writer says, "The grains of wheat, not yet fully dry and hard, are roasted in a pan or on a.n iron plate, and eaten along with bread, or instead of it." Boaz showed his practical sympathy with the widows of the narrative by giving parched corn to Ruth to eat, and by securing that her gleaning should be even more snccessful and abundant than was usual with the maidens. I. Liberality to the poor should ACCORD WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE GIVER. II. It should TAKE A FORM ADAPTED TO THE WANTS OF THE RECIPIENT. III. It should DE UNGRUDGING AND GRACEFUL IN ITS BESTOWAL. IV. It should BE INSPIRED BY THE MEMORY OF THE UNDESERVED BOUNTY OF THE GREAT GIVER, GOD. V. It should NOT COUNT UPON, though it may have occasion to rejoice in, THE GRATITUDE OF THE BENEFICIARY.-T.
Ver. 10.-" I am a stranger I" What a touching word. In some cities there is the strangers' burying-ground. There they sleep as they lived, separated from their brethren. I. THE HEBREWS WERE KIND TO STRANGERS. Their Divine revelation gave them injunctions concerning the stranger within their gates. They were to be considerate and kind to the cattle ; bow much more to those made in the image of God like themselves I The young learnt this lesson ; from earliest years they were taught the law while "sitting in the house." Boaz knew all this, and be "lived" it. II. STRANGERS HAVE SENSITIVE HEARTS. Their experiences make them quick to feel insult or blessing. Never can they quite escape the consciousness, 11 I am a stranger." In other lands, under other skies, the stranger carriE'B far-away visions of the heart within, which make the spirit pensive. Consequently, care and love are intensely appreciated by them. Religion is the life of love and the death of selfish- ness wherever it lives and reigns in the heart. III. S·rRANGERS IN TIME MAKE A FATHERLAND OF THE NEW HOME. So did Ruth. 'New ties sprang up; for love looks forward. Children take the place of ancestors, and we live in them. How often we are tempted to forget our own lot. " Remember that ye were strangers," therefore deal kindly with them. Think bow precious to you was the fellowship of hearts that stole away your sadness as a stranger at school, or in the new city of life and duty. What a consolation it is that we are never strangers in our Father's sight, and that everywhere we may find "home " in God.-W. M. S.