The. 23. Sermon.

HERE is declared what BO∣HAZ did, after that the kinse∣man (whose name the holye ghost of purpose concealed) had yeelded vp his right. First he sayth plainely, that he hath gotten the posses∣sions of ELIMELECH and his sonnes; then that he will take RVTH the Moa∣bite to wife, and that not for lust, but lest the name of MAHLON, who was depar∣ted, should be blotted out frō amongest his brethren, that is, his kinsmen, & from the gate of his place: that is, from Beth∣lehem. By which words, he sheweth the excellencie of his stocke, that manye of his kindred haue sate in the gate; that is, haue beene Iudges. And it had beene a Page  [unnumbered] thing to be lamented, that so noble a fa∣mily shuld perish, which might in times to come yeeld gouernors for the people

Here it is demaunded, whether BO∣HAZ did not against the lawes, for bid∣dinge to marrie straungers, within the which, though the Lorde comprehen∣deth those nations whiche hee had ap∣pointed to destruction, yet wee haue shewed before, 1. chap. 3. Sermon, that they also do extend to other infidels, by reason of the daungers of idolatrie. But where there was no daunger of falling awaye, it was not altogeather vnlawfull to marry. RVTH was now conuerted to the fayth, and to the worshippe of God alone, and had geuen testimonye of her fayth by her especiall good workes. So the father of BOHAZ, SALMON DAVIDS great gandfather, married RAHAB a ca∣nanite, who had preserued the spies and had made a notable shewe of her fayth. There must alwaies be more regard had of the true worshippe of God, then of riches and kindreds. ABRAHAM. GEN. 24. bound his seruaunt by an oth, that Page  134 he should not go to the cananites, but to his owne kinsfolkes to seeke a wyfe for ISAACKE his masters sonne. ISAACK or rather REDECCA sendeth her sonne IAACOB to LABAN, least he should mar∣rie with Idolaters. GEN. 28. It behoo∣ueth parents to followe this example, when idolaters go about to make marri∣ages, they promise many thinges which they do not afterwardes performe. He that loueth daunger (as it is sayd) shall perishe in it. The daughters which are bestowed vppon superstitious men, are subiect to more daunger, then young men which are married with superstiti∣ous Idolatrous women. Let children al∣so remember theyr duties, and not seek for such matches agaynst the good wyll of their parents. It is accounted as a fault in ESAV, that he offended his parentes by marrying idolatrous wiues, GEN. 27. That matrimony which is lawfully con∣tracted, with the godly hath many trou∣bles, what good then wilt thou look for of that vnequall marriage? Otherwise to be conuersant with the Idolaters, it is Page  [unnumbered] dangerous and troublesom, what if thou wert wholly bound to them? Deceaue not thy selfe with a vayne hope, that thou canst win thy wife, or the wife the husband, for we see the contrary come to passe, for the moste part. And it is commonly knowne what befell to SA∣LOMON the wisest man that euer was, when hee married idolatrous women. BOAZ dealt publickely in the place of iudgement, of both these poyntes, first of the possessions: then of the marriage with RVTH, and he did nothing secretly admonishing vs by this his fact, that we shuld so bargaine, in buying, in selling, in changing, and redeeming, as if we did the same, publickely in the iudgement place before many witnesses, or in the sight of all men. Howe many are there, which doe so bargaine with their neigh∣bors, that they dare not for shame tell, howe they made it, and what were the conditions of their bargaines? They name a somme of money, whiche they shoulde haue giuen to their neigh∣bour, they say they dealt lawfully with Page  135 him without deceite, when they knowe they lye: Furthermore they will haue, their lying bookes witnessed with good mens seales. It should haue bene consi∣dered, that there is an accompt to be giuen, and that wee shall haue two wit∣nesses against vs, namely, our own con∣science, and God the beholder and re∣uenger of our sinnes. But marriages must not be contracted secretly, but be∣fore witnesses, no man must be decea∣ued in marriages, but all thinges must be done with good faith. Secret marriages which are commonly made by baudes, vayne promises, dronkennes and suche other means haue seldom a good & hap∣pie ende. Let not maydens hearken to yong men which promise thē marriage, if they would first deliuer them their bo∣dies to be abused. For if they were ho∣nest, they had rather begin theyr marria∣ges with thee with prayers made in the holy assembly, then by lying with thee. It was also both wel, and wisely appoin∣ted by the olde fathers, that they which should be married, should be ioyned to∣gether Page  [unnumbered] by the minister of the Churche publickly in the holy assemblies. For hereby we doe declare that marriage is a holy thing, and not a worke of darke∣nesse, whereof wee should be ashamed. They whiche doe euill doe feare the light, and doe seeke for corners & dark∣nesse. Herein are also other commodi∣ties. For wee see which are lawfull mat∣ches, which not. This also prouoketh thē which are married to performe the mar∣riage fayth, ech with others, because that they promised the same by wordes and by giuing of the hand in the holy assembly, the minister of the Churche going before. If any man, in the presence of three or foure, promiseth that, he will do any thing, hee will throughly per∣forme the same, if hee be a good man, and may doe it with a good conscience, how much more, ought married people to performe those thinges, which they haue promised one to an other, in the sight of God, and his aungels, and the whole Church? Furthermore, the whole Church, prayeth that the marriage may Page  136 be happie and prosperous, wherof more shalbe said hereafter.

BOAZ said to the Elders and all the people, ye are witnesses (afterward hee rehearsed it) that these and these things I haue done. They aunswered, wee are witnesses, as if they should haue said, if it be necessary, we will testifie, how this matter was brought to passe. Let witnes∣ses speake those things which they haue heard, seene, or knowe, vppon some cer∣taine ground, let them not be light per∣sons, or liers. They doe offend greatly, which will say nothing, least they shuld offende anye man, or doe not speake those thinges rightly which they doe speake, they doe vtter another mans wordes in another sence, some thinges they add, some things they omit, which doe appertaine to the matter.

These are false witnesses, whome SA∣LOMON. 6. PRO. nombreth amōgst those sixe or seuen thinges, which the Lorde abhorreth, and in the 19. chap. hee sayth twise a false witnesse shall not be vnpu∣nished, and hee that speaketh lies shall Page  [unnumbered] perish. A false witnesse offendeth gree∣uously, for he deceiueth the Iudge, who beleueth the witnes•es that were sworne according to that saying, in the mouth of two or three witnesses euery cause shall stād or fal. Thē he hurteth his neighbor greatly in goodes, credite, body, & lyfe. Furthermore hee doth great iniurie to God, whome the false witnesse maketh the patrō of his falshood. For these cau∣ses, there are sharpe lawes, both deuine and ciuill against them. Wherefore let euery man deale faythfully in witnesse bearing. And let vs not onely vse wit∣nesses in matters of great importaunce, which it may be was sufficient at that time, but also let vs prouide that those thinges which we buy and our bargains and such other thinges, be written in bookes or otherwise noted diligently, and without ambiguitie, least contenti∣on shoulde afterwardes arise. In times past it appeareth that there were smale notes of sales and bargaines, but nowe men can scarcely be kept in order, with large and great bookes.