pardon for my sins, in my

more also, if aught but death part thee and me. She was prepared for all events and difficulties -whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. The import of her language seems to be, "I know not whither thou art going, I am unacquainted with the land of Judah and the way to it. I know not what provision thou mayst have even for thy lodging during the journey; but still I am resolved to follow thee through all. I know the true God is revealed in the nation of Israel. I know the people to which thou belongest are the real servants of the one Jehovah. I know I can be happy only as I obtain his and his favour and mercy future life. I accordingly cheerfully quit my native home and people and gods, to choose the people and worship of the Lord God of Israel. And, therefore, entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee.-Be not against me*; act. not so unkind and unfriendly a part. Spare me the pain of the conflict. Whatever may unhappily be the conduct of my sister, I am resolved never to quit thee. And if death meet me on the journey, I am prepared to undergo it; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. I desire not to lie even in the grave with my native people. I am prepared to renounce them, both in life and in death, and to

This is the marginal reading.

choose the God revealed in covenant to Abraham and made known by Moses, as my eternal portion. This is my fixed purpose; yea, God do so to me and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. I appeal by a solemn asseveration to that God who trieth the hearts, for the unalterable determination which I have made to abide with thee."

What a lovely picture of true grace! This is indeed to follow the Lord fully; this is to choose the good part; this is to put the hand to the plough and not to look back. This is, like Abraham, to go out not knowing whither she went. This is, like Rahab, to be on the Lord's side. This is, like Matthew, and Zaccheus, and Paul, to follow at once the voice of Christ. Ruth evidently acted from fixed sentiments and ardent love. She manifested the true principles of the fear of God. She cheerfully ventured on his truth, and boldly followed the call of duty; she renounced earth for heaven, time for eternity, the ease of this world for the glories of another. She showed also a holy taste as well as a right principle. There was an emotion, an attraction, a life, an energy in her piety. It was not a cold deduction of reason, but a warm dictate of feeling, not a timid and reserved and hesitating approbation, but a fervent and resolute choice. The root of it was deeply in-. fixed. It was not merely a summer-flower, but

a winter-plant that could stand the effects of blast and storm. Ruth acted as one who felt herself a sinner, who needed the mercy of God, who believed this was only to be obtained in his church, who felt this to be dearer to her than life itself, and who therefore risked every thing in pursuing it. And this resolution was taken at a very important juncture. Had she accompanied Orpah to Moab, she might probably have returned to idols and have perished in her sin. A moment of vacillation might have endangered her soul. As if conscious of this, the timid fearful female, of whom no other instance of particular firmness is recorded, rising to the full height of the critical emergency, determines with the solemnity of an oath, and the deeply-seated emotions of unalterable affection, to follow God.

Such is the way to heaven, when conflicting and difficult occasions arise. A half-hearted character will do nothing in religion, for God demands the whole soul. A divine nature gives a heavenly bias. He that feels deeply the value of eternity, a sense of sin, a desire of pardon, the grace and glory of the Saviour, and the necessity of salvation, must be decided in trying circumstances. To halt between two opinions, is scarcely less dangerous than to choose the wrong one. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. He that would have the

evidence of Ruth's piety must adopt her courageous determination.

But we proceed to consider,

III. THE MARKS OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS WHICH APPEARED IN HER SUBSEQUENT HISTORY.

She ventured, as we have seen, on the truth of God, and put her trust under the covert of his wings. Nor did she rely upon him in vain. She found him, as all who imitate her example will find him, infinitely better to her than her expectations. She had left her country and her kindred, and had accompanied an aged and sorrowful widow to a distant land. And was she confounded? Did her hope make her ashamed? Does her subsequent story tend to discourage the humble penitent from imitating her intrepidity? On the contrary, where is there a character more distinguished by the mercies of that God who thus brought her to himself?

I need not dwell, in proof of this, on the peace of conscience which would necessarily follow her pious and noble choice, on the growing acquaintance she would acquire with the - will of God, and especially on the light which would break in upon her mind from a knowledge of the promise first made in the garden of Eden to fallen man, and then confirmed to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob-the promise of that glorious Shiloh, that star out of Israel,·

U

that angel the Redeemer, that prophet like unto Moses, of which she probably knew little when she first came into Judah, but which was afterwards undoubtedly more fully explained to her. I need not remark the joy she would feel in the remission of sins through the blood of the typical sacrifices, which she would be taught to rely upon, as directing her faith to the future Messiah, I need not point out the communications of God's holy Spirit, which had doubtless already formed her to so magnanimous à reso lution, and which would continue to purify her heart, and unite her more closely to that God whom she had chosen as her portion. I do not dwell on these blessings, both because they are common to all the faithful, and because they are not particularly mentioned in the history before us.

It will be sufficient briefly to notice those peculiar marks of the divine goodness to her which the sacred writer especially records.

Observe, then, the CALM AND CHEERFUL COURSE OF PIETY AND INDUSTRY Which she pur sued. She went out to glean in the harvest, in order to support by her diligence her parent and herself. Her meek and dutiful character was so well known, that the servant who was set over the reapers was acquainted with her as the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi. Her whole history marks the peaceful and religious tenour of her life with her mothers