The book of Ruth expounded in twenty eight sermons, by Levves Lauaterus of Tygurine, and by hym published in Latine, and now translated into Englishe by Ephraim Pagitt, a childe of eleuen yeares of age

The 8. Sermon.

19. So they went both vntill they came to Bethle∣hem and when they were come to Bethlehem, it was noysed of them through all the city, and they sayd, is not this Naomie?

20 And shee aunswered them, call me not Nao∣mie, but call mee Mara: for the almightie hath geuen me much bitternes.

21 I went out full, and the Lord caused me to re∣turne emptie: why call yee mee Naomie see∣ing the Lord hath humbled mee, and the all∣mightie hath brough me vnto aduersitie.

22, So Naomie returned and Ruth the Moa∣bitesse her daughter in lawe with her, when she came out of the coūtry of Moab: & they came to Bethlehē in the beginning of barl••e haruest.

IT is described in these fewe wordes, how NAOMIE and RVTH came out of the land of Moab to Bethlehem, in the land of Iudah, and what befell to them and what time of the yeare they went this iourney, which doth containe great doctrine and comfort.

First, they say that both of them went togither in their iourney, vntill they came to Bethlehem. RVTH whiche was the yonger, and therfore more light, did not goe before her, being olde but way∣ted on her, neither is it to be doubted but that shee did lessen the griefe of her mother in lawes iourney by pleasaunt speches, & al other means that she could. It is the duetie of young folkes when they trauell with their elders to haue a care of them, this phrase seemeth to de∣clare that they did not linger in theyr iourney but went right to Bethlehem. For it doth not become women to lin∣ger in their way.

The whole Citie is mooued at their comming. Him. in the coniugation Ni∣phal

signifieth to make a tumult or a noyse or a sound. 1. SAM. 4. Verse. 5. when the arke was brought into the tentes, it is said that the Israelites cried as though the earth had shooke. The Septuagint doe vse this word Cai echesen and it soun∣ded, as it is in this place also: 1. KINGS. 1. verse. 45. When the king was chosen the Citie was in a tumult or was moued with a noyse. MATT. 21. when Christ went into Ierusalem the EVANGELIST sayth that the Citie was moued. Also in this place the Citie is moued that is:

They were astonied, they had diuers speeches of the comming of the poore women: they did flocke to see thē, as in many Cities, they do sometimes behaue themselues too too impudently, when straungers come: they wonder at this chaunge of thinges.

By this it appeareth that NAOMIE was a woman of great renowne and E∣LIMELECH her husband was a man of some accompt. For at the comming of poore men there is no great concourse of people: They asked if this was NAO∣MIE?

that name signifieth plentifull sweete and pleasaunt. The meaning is, is not this that moste notable woman which suffered so many trobles? or this bewtiful woman? truely she aunswereth not to her name. We haue bene Troi∣ans. Good Lord how much is she chan∣ged! For though some spake this of a good minde, marueiling at so great a chaunge, yet it is probable that some laught her to scorne, because shee had lost her beautie and her goods by seek∣ing for a better condition, according to the maner of the common people. But that doth greatly troble vs, when others doe mocke vs, in our afflictions, and doe not rather sorrowe with vs, we see with such scoffes euen most valiant men much troubled. By the way we doe also learne that bewtie is a fraile thing which perisheth by diseases, by olde age, by euill vsage, and by many other meanes. Therefore we must not haue too much trust in beautie. There are excellent sen∣tences concerning this matter amongst the Ethnickes.

Shee doth desire them to call her no more NAOMIE but rather MARA, that is they should call her bitter, sad and af∣flicted because of the bitternes where∣with God himselfe had touched her, and that which shee had said in a worde she afterwardes expresseth more fully: I went out full, and the Lorde caused me to returne emptie. I had a husband and children and wealth, and nowe I am de∣stitute of all these, and therefore I doe not aunswere to my name. My affaires are no more in that estate wherein they were when I was in flourishing age and bewtie: God hath pressed and humbled me with diuers troubles: therfore an o∣ther name doth agree with my estate. Wee learne by this, that godly men wheresoeuer they be, whether at home or abroad want not their crosses. When NAOMIE returned into her country, she was entertained with scoffes, no doubt. But in the land of MOAB also, shee must needes see & heare many things which greatly greeued her mind. God doth graunt a truce to his children for a time

but in the meane season he woulde they should gather their wittes togither, and prouide for the troubles to come. Wee must not desire of God to liue without a crosse, who doth chasten them whom he doth loue. HEBRV. 12. 2. TIM. 3. all that will liue godly must suffer persecu∣tions. ACTES 14. we must goe into the kingdome of heauen through manie troubles. Let vs not thinke then that it is an argument that God is angry with vs, when he doth afflict vs with diuers tro∣bles. Secondly here is to be seene how NAOMIE gouerned her self, in that new affliction and other trobles, wherewith shee was greatly oppressed. She ouer∣came all troubles with patience. She did giue place to them that skorned her, so that if it pleased them they might for NAOMIE call her MARA. She spake no∣thing impiously against god, or reproch∣fully against man: the old woman might easily haue found some thinges, with the which shee might haue vpbraided those which so entertained her, saying how impudent are you? what meaneth

this concourse? did you neuer see poor & afflicted women? haue ye nothing to do at home? do you reioice at other mēs troubles? Truely you doe shewe your great foolishnes, or rather enuie. But she vseth no suche wordes, shee doth deale peaceably with them, and she doth con∣fesse freely, that her estate was in a hard case. But how could she beare the repro∣ches of the people, and lightly beare so many troubles, when all of vs by nature are vnpatient? first she doth confesse that these thinges fell not our by chaunce but that GOD was the first author of these troubles, who gouerning al things well according to his good wil, doth in∣iurie to no man. God hath brought me back (saith she) he hath troubled me, he hath afflicted me, shee doth not accuse the Moabites nor her husband nor chil∣dren nor fortune, but attributeth al 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to God. If we beleeue that God who is a most iust and mercifull father doth im∣pose the crosse vpon vs. Wee shalbe the more patient. We haue an example of IOSEPH, who said he was sent of God to

Aegipt: also DAVID who said that GOD did commaund Shimei to cursse him. We must not thinke what they are who doe hurt vs, either in word or deede: but what we are and with what sinnes wee prouoke Gods wrathe against vs, what we haue deserued, and let vs submit our selues to him: if wee rest vppon second causes, we shal neuer haue quiet minds. Then shee doth acknowledge that God did send her those troubles, for good & and not to ouerthrow her: for shee sayd he humbled her. This word signifieth to humble, to afflict: for of trouble humili∣tie doth follow. Trouble doth giue vn∣derstanding. This NAOMIE was not without her faultes. It may be shee did not know before he was dead, how no∣table a husband shee had, and the same may be sayd of her children and wealth ••••d health. &c. or els she had too much delight in them, and trusted too muche in them.

God doth take away those thinges wherin wee put our hope & confidence that our whole hart may depēd on him

alone. DAVID sayth in the Psalme: it is good O Lorde that thou hast humbled me. This profite of the Crosse is great which ought to teache vs patience: for god prepareth a way to thinges greater by troubling vs. As if any man taketh down an old house that he might build a new house better thē the other. Further she saith twise that shee is afflicted with the almightie god, who can easily con∣uert troubles into prosperitie. In all tro∣bles think that god is almightie, & ther∣fore it is not hard to him, if he will and the good of his children do so require, to deliuer thē out of their troubles. Hee doth make the poore rich, he doth heale the sicke, he doth raise vp from the dead hee doth decke the despised with great authoritie. Furthermore he doth some∣time bring his children into great ad∣uersities for this cause, that they may afterwards acknowledge him their only deliuerer, and giue him thankes.

In the last place it is noted what time of the yeare she returned into her coun∣trie, namely in the spring time whē they

began to reape barly. About the feast of the passeouer they began to reape barly. The Chaldean interpreter saith that she came the first day of the passeouer when the Israelites began to reape the sheafe or handfull of the first fruites whiche was barely: LEVI. 23. ca: It is writtē that the 15. day of the month of Nishan they offered a handfull of eares of the first fruites of their corne, this was barely as the Hebrue interpreters do affirme: this matter is mentioned for the historie of the chap. following how RVTH went to gather cares and came acquainted with BOAZ.

NAOMIE doth teach vs by this ex∣ample, that we do not neglect occasion, which is (as CICERO saith) atime which hath in it selfe a dexteritie to doe some∣what, or not to do: this in attempting & performing matters is of great impor∣tance. Thinges haue their time as SA∣LOMON saith in his preacher. PAVL•• to the EPHE. COLO. cōmaundeth to re∣deem the time. The metaphor is borow∣ed of biers. Hee that letretth it slip after∣wardes

cannot haue it againe. The olde man in PLAVTVS sayth, when thou art a young man, nowe that thy bloud is sound, thou oughtest to giue diligence to thy affaires. Let youthes when occa∣sion is offered learne their bookes and true religion: let them not deferre it vn∣to others times whiche will lesse agree for the learning of these matters, Assone as NAOMIE hoped that she could get a∣ny liuing in the field, shee returned into her own countrey, she doth not deferre the matter vntil all corne was gathered. SALOMON. 10. PRO. Who doth gather in the sommer is a wise sonne. Cap. 20. The slouthfull will not plowe because of winter, therefore shall he begge in som∣mer, but haue nothing.