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. 24. Sermon.

11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the Elders sayd, we are witnesses: the Lorde make the wife that commeth into thine house, like Rahel and like Leach, which twayne dyd build the house of Israell: and thou mayest doe worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem.

12 And that thy house be like the house of Pha∣rez (whome Thamar bare to Iudah) of the seede which the Lorde shall giue thee of this young woman.

AFter BOAZ had declared opē∣ly, that hee would not onely take his kinsmans fields, but also take the widow to his wife, the Elders & all the people, which were come together in the gate, do say first that they are witnesses, that BOAZ tooke RVTH to him in marriage. Then they prayed that God would vouchsafe to blesse their marriage: and especiallie they wishe them many children: the which they declare by two examples. God make (say they) RVTH like RAHEL and LEACH. IACOB the Patriarke, who

otherwise is called ISRAEL had foure wiues, whereof these two were chiefe. LEAH whome hee married first, was the elder, and is here mentioned last, and RAHEL, is set before her, it may be, be∣cause he loued her best for bewty, and other excellent giftes. For her sake hee serued LABAN, and should haue married her first, if he had not bene deceaued by his father in lawe: GEN. 29. It may be, that for this cause she is principally cal∣led IACOBES wife: GEN. 46. and not be∣cause that LEACH was not also his wife. Of these two he begate eight sonnes, of whome there came and were named so many tribes of Israell. And this is it which they say that they builded the house of Israell, for by them his familie and posteritie was encreased and pre∣serued, yea and continued vnto Christ. Afterward they doe say, let thy house be as the house of PHAREZ, whome THA∣MAR bare to IVDAH. IVDAH the sonne of IACOB, almost by the like case tooke THAMAR to wife, a stranger, his daugh∣ter in law, of whom he begate twinnes,

PHAREZ and ZARAH, and so the stocke and kinred of IVDAH, was encreased: for from them descended many noble families. From PHAREZ, camethis BOAZ by whome descended the line of oure Lorde Iesus Christ, for of him was hee borne, into this world, according to the fleshe. If thou wouldest read this whole historie, in the book of GEN. thou shalt the better vnderstand this prayer.

In the olde testament it was accomp∣ted; as a great blessing, if any had manie children: barrennes was holden as a re∣proch: the which is manifest by the ex∣ample of RAHEL, of whome mention is made in this place, who at the first was barren, and of other matrones, as wee will shew afterwardes. REBECKAES pa∣rentes GEN. 24. blessed her at her de∣parture, saying, growe into thousand thousands, & thy seed possesse the gate of his enemies. The prophet singeth, PSAL. 128. thy wife shalbee as the fruit∣full vine, on the sides of thine house, & thy children, like the Oliue plantes, round about thy table. The fruitfulnes

of married folkes, is also mentioned a∣mongest the blessings of the Lord in the lawe. But that which is spoken of the multitude of children, must be vnder∣stood of them which are obedient, god∣ly, and of good disposition: for degene∣rate children, are rather a cursse: holy children, are the seminary of the church and common wealth. And as the mul∣titude of children, so the multitude of men, ought generally to be reckoned a∣mongest Gods blessings. But many na∣tions are so straight (thou sayest) that men, cannot well liue in them: I aun∣swere, that is rather through the fault of the men, then the straightnesse of the land, when as they haue no regarde of frugalitie amongest them. Thus much o•• the first blessing or petition.

Secondly they wish vnto them, plenty of riches and substaunce: saying, and that thou mayest obtayn, get, or increase riches, in Ephrathah: that God would blesse their labour whereby they migh•• honestly get necessarie riches, that they should not be compeld to begge they

meat, or suffer penurie. Riches are need∣full for the preseruation of the familie. Neyther is it vnlawfull for men to bee diligent in gathering thē, whereby they may maintaine themselues and their fa∣milies. Concerning the which matter, there are many sentences, and precepts written in the Prouerbes of SALOMON. But we must take heede taht we do not attribute, the encrease of riches, to our wisdom and diligence, but rather to the blessing of the Lorde. For his blessing or fauor maketh riche, Prou. 10. All our la∣bours are in vaine, vnlesse the Lord giue successe. Luk. 5. The Apostles laboring al the night, tooke nothing, but letting downe the net when Christ commaun∣ded, they enclosed so great a multitude of fishes, that the net brake. Riches must not be sought afterwith an insatiable de sire. psa. 62. If riches increase, set not your heart thereon, &c. Some doe gather ri∣ches by right and wrong, but they are cursed riches, whiche profite not their house, but rather ouerthrow the same. But if thou hast no riches, or at lest very

small, remember that which SALOMON sayth, Prou. 15. Better is a little with the feare of the Lord, then great treasure & trouble therwith, 17. better is a dry mor∣sell if peace be with it, then a house full of sacrifices, with strife, 16. Better is a lit∣tle, with righteousnes, then great reue∣nues without equitie.

Others do translate these words, that thou mayest become mighty: doe wor∣thely, for Chail, hath many significations in the Scriptures: as strength of body, of the minde, riches, and wealth, also an armie and multitude of people: before in the third chap. he calleth our RVTH, a woman (Chail) of vertue, that is, indued with notable vertues. BOHAZ in the se∣cond chap. is called a man, Chail, that is, a man of power, and in Exod. 18. chap. IE∣THRO for the gouernement of the com∣monwealth, councelleth to choose men Chail, that is of courage, others doe tran∣slate it, wise men, strong and valiant, and also dealing truely, who in iudgement can be drawen from doing their duetie neither by threatnings, neither by gifts,

nor by promises. There are many places euery where to bee founde, where Chail signifieth riches. Iob. 20. 18. ver. It is said of the wicked: hee shall restore the la∣bour, and shall deuour no more: euen according Chail, to his power and sub∣staunce, shalbe his exchange, and he shal enioye it no more: the meaning is, hee shall not reioyce in the riches which he shall restore in place of them, which he had gotten by rapine, chap. 31. 25. If I re∣ioyced because my substance was great, or because my hande had gotten much: vnderstande, let me perishe, or some like worde.

Or they do wish, that they might haue many children, like vnto a great armye: but of children there is already spokē, or do worthely or valiantly, out of which a third thing ariseth to be cōfidered, of the which it now followeth to bee spoken.

For the third thinge which they pray for is, that he may becom famous & no∣ble in Bethlehē, which is called by ano∣ther name Euphrata, or the citie of DA∣VID, of which there is spoken aboue in

the first chapter. Word for worde, Call name, that is, thou shalt bee of great re∣nowne: They do pray, that they maye so behaue themselues, that they might get, an notable name, and prayse. But credite and authoritie is gotten by the study of vertue. AGESILAVS being de∣maunded, howe one might get himself, a good report (the Grecians cal it eudox∣ian) amongst men? He aunswereth if hee speake those thinges, whiche are verye good, and doe those thinges which are very honest. ISOCRATES sayd, we must endeuour more, to leaue a good name, to our children, then great heapes of ri∣ches: For by a good report, riches may be gotten, but a good name can neuer be recouered by money. PROV. 10. The memoriall of the iust remaineth, but the name of the wicked shall rotte. PROV. 22 A good name is to bee chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue go••d, and siluer, In ECCLE. 6. It is ac∣counted as pretious ointments: by wic∣kednes & leudnes of lyfe, a good name is lost.

It appeareth, that this prayer was not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vayne, and without profite, for BOAZ ••nd RVTH, had children and nephues, ••hey encreased in riches, and obtayned, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 name of great renowne: for they are numbred amongest the graundfathers ••nd grandmothers of IESV the sauiour: From them many and mightye kinges descended. We learne, to pray for gods ••lessinges, both vpon new married peo∣ple, and our selues and others, and that ••oth priuately and publickly. But heere by this prayer is to bee gathered, what those good thinges are, whiche must especiallye bee prayed for. The Phi∣••osophers, doe deuide the goodes, into the goodes of the minde, the body, and fortune, all which thinges are con∣••ayned in this short prayer. For they pray, that they might haue a holy off∣spring, riches, or studie of vertue, and a ••enowned name. And these thinges must be sought for, in that fountaine of all good, which can neuer be drawne drie that is from God. There are many afflictions and dangers, wherewith God

doth exercise vs, therfore we haue ne•••• of his grace and blessing that wee may patiently beare all troubles, therefore wee must pray to God publickely, and priuately, that he would mittigate both those troubles whiche fall out through the fault of the married people, and al∣so other troubles, or that he would take them away.

Many in our time, when they do•• heare of new marriages, are not exerci∣sed in praier, they ar all in the rehearsing of the vices of bridegromes or brides, or parents or some of their kindred. Manie doe thinke in the Church of banquettes and daunces and such other thinges ra∣ther then pray for Gods blessinges on the new married folkes: yea the marri∣ed folkes themselues, are seldome exer∣cised in prayer, when they are led to the church to receiue the blessing, nor whe•• they go home. The last care is of Gods word, & prayers: therfore let no mā mar∣uell that so many vnhappinesses bee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 marriages. Our praiers shall not be with∣out effectes, if we doe begin our marri••∣ges

with them, & continue stil in them. For wee haue many and notable pro∣mises, that God vouchsafeth mercifully to heare our prayers proceeding from •• liuely fayth.