Ruth 2:19 And her mother in law said to her, Where have you gleaned to day? and where worked you? blessed be he that did take knowledge of you… Consider the diffusion of pleasure and delight which arose from no great nor lasting act of charity. The hearts of Naomi and Ruth did sing for joy upon sight of a relief which would soon want another: and Boaz throbbed with more noble ecstasies, by as much as it is more blessed to give than to receive, I. THAT THE POOR HAVE A RIGHT TO GLEAN UPON US, and that part of our substance, by the laws of God and nature, is their strict and proper due. II. THAT THE BLESSING OF GOD AND THE POOR IS AN AMPLE RETRIBUTION TO THE RICH FOR SUFFERING THEM TO GLEAN, and that they have as strict a right to that as the poor have to their gleaning, and much greater refreshments springing from it. III. THAT IN RELIGIOUS PUBLIC MINISTRATIONS IT IS FAR FROM VAINGLORY TO DISTINGUISH OURSELVES BY OUR LIBERALITY. Then the more we give the more we may be truly said to promote the glory of God! Then the more we show the forwardness of our mind the more we profess subjection to the laws of Christ. (R. Coleire, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. |
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