cheerful, that Ruth was to go to Boaz, for he would then be more inclined to kindness; and further, she was to set herself off to the greatest advantage in person and dress; but these were but harmless devices; no wrong thought was in her mind; her object was to place Ruth under the protection of Boaz, and to get him to act a kinsman's part towards her, and she took what seemed to her the most likely means. Boaz himself, in whose character and conduct not a flaw appears, thought no ill of Ruth for what she did; on the contrary, he said, "all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." Further, he promised to do the part of a kinsman towards her; and though he sent her home before light, and said, "let it not be known that a woman came into the floor," this was not because of anything wrong, but to stop the tongue of scandal, and keep his own and Ruth's reputation clear. The present which he sent to Naomi shows that he considered her conduct to be blameless. "Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law," he said to Ruth at parting; and he sent her away with six measures of barley.

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It was still scarcely light when Ruth returned. Some think that Naomi's first words, "Who art thou, my daughter?" show that in that dim light she did not know Ruth; but it is more likely that she meant, "In what way am I to look on thee? How hast thou sped? Has my plan succeeded?" And this is the more to be thought from Ruth's

answer: She told her all that the man had done to her." So far, so good; Naomi was well satisfied. She saw that Ruth had made a good impression on Boaz, and there she would leave the matter. She probably knew the character of Boaz, that he was a man of action, and so she believed that he would carry out his promise that very day; as for herself and Ruth, they need do no more. Doubtless it was in faith that she both acted and left off acting. Faith is as much required for sitting still as for taking a forward step. When we have sought guidance, and done all that lay in our power, then our strength is to sit still,10 and wait God's pleasure. Unbelief is impatient and restless, faith will wait in quiet trust. "He that believeth shall not make haste." 11

All turned out according to Naomi's desire. That very day Boaz went to the city-gate, the usual meeting-place, and, with ten men of the city for witnesses, settled the business. He was not the next of kin to Naomi and Ruth, there was one man yet nearer. This man therefore had the first right; it rested with him, if he chose so to do, to buy the land which had belonged to Elimelech, her right in which Naomi's poverty obliged her to sell, and also to take Ruth to wife. The first he was willing to do, but not the last; and when he found that he could not do the one without doing the other too, he declined altogether. "I cannot," he said, "redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine 11 Isa, xxviii. 16.

10 Isa. xxx. 7.

own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it." His meaning seems to have been that, if he redeemed the land on the terms of marrying Ruth, he would probably be a loser rather than a gainer, from having another wife and family to maintain; for so he would mar or spoil his own inheritance, by lessening what he would have to leave to the children he had already.

The way was now clear for Boaz, and the business was finished out of hand. All that had been Elimelech's and his sons' Boaz bought of Naomi, and "Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon," he took to wife. In due time she bore him a son; and the child was as dear to Naomi as to Ruth. "And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughterin-law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi ; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David."12

The name Obed means servant or worshipper. We know no more of this man than his name; but we may believe that the child grew up to be both a worshipper of the Lord, and a servant or helper 12 Ruth iv. 7.

to Naomi. The pious words of the women were doubtless fulfilled, and the child whom Naomi fondly laid in her bosom became her comfort and support

in her old age.

Thenceforth she probably found her chief happiness in the happiness of others. She saw Ruth a happy wife and mother; she watched the growth of the child—almost as much hers as Ruth's; she passed an honoured old age in the midst of comfort, plenty, and affection. God, who had sorely chastened her, now blessed her again. She might now lay aside the name Mara, and take her old name again--Naomi, pleasant or prosperous-for God had restored to her both prosperity and pleasure. It is in these happy circumstances that we leave her.

The closing years of a life of trial are often such -peacefully and quietly happy. The storms of life are over, and trials and losses now belong to the past; they have indeed left their mark; the power of enjoying outward things is not what it once was, the animal spirits are at a lower pitch, not much of brilliancy remains; but a calm and thoughtful contentedness is left, a cheerful trust, an unselfish pleasure in the happiness of others, and much power withal of making them happier. The evening of life may be grey-toned, but it need not be dull. It may have a sober brightness of its own; and, above all, it may be brightened more and more with the light that shines from above and beyond the true "light of life."

JONATHAN.

HERE are several Jonathans in Scripture: but the one we have to do with is by far the best known-Jonathan, the son of Saul, and friend of David.

We come suddenly upon him in the history of his father. We know nothing of his birth, or bringing up. He appears upon the scene a fullgrown man, a brave and daring warrior, the commander of one division of the army of Israel. It was only two years, or possibly three, since Saul had been made king, and Saul himself was still in the prime of life, "a choice young man, and a goodly;" his son therefore, though there may not have been many years between them, was quite a young man. We may believe that, as he inherited his father's bravery, so he was of a like noble figure. Of Saul we read, that "from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people;" and the description was probably applicable to Jonathan too, for "Saul and Jonathan were lovely and