THE FARMER AND HIS REAPERS. FARMER.-The Lord be with you. REAPERS.-The Lord bless thee.-RUTH ii. 4. THREE thousand years, at least, have rolled away since these words were first spoken, and yet, with respect to the occasion on which they were uttered, and the employments of each of the parties, we may say, All things continue as they were, even to this day. God is faithful to his promise, seed time and harvest do not cease to appear in their proper order, he still preserves the various productions of the earth, each to come forth in its due season, and each to appear in its proper nature. A grain of wheat now, is, probably, the same as it was in the days of Boaz, who dwelt in Bethlehem; the manner of gathering in the ripened corn is pretty much the same. The pursuits of the field may be carried on with some variation, arising from modern improvements, but the mutual duties of the master and the servant, the farmer and the reapers, and the comforts and advantages arising from the fulfilment of them, have undergone no necessary change. 66 The narrative, of which the salutations of the farmer and his reapers form a part, is a striking and interesting specimen of the simple habits of those early days; it refers, chiefly, to the history and circumstances of an obscure individual, a stranger," and a heathen; but the Spirit of God has thought her history of more importance to be recorded in the inspired word of God, than the exploits of the mighty of the earth, and the conquests of empires. It was a link in that chain of events, which were, in the wisdom of God, to lead to the provision of a king to govern the nation of Israel; and even to more than this, to the birth of a greater than David, the King Messiah, Jesus Christ the Saviour. But our present object, reader, is to place before you that part of the narrative which exhibits the pious conduct of Boaz and his reapers, as an example worthy of general imitation, and as well adapted to suggest useful and important instruction, not only to those in particular who are engaged the religious TRACT SOCIETY, instituted 1799; in similar pursuits, but to all who are called, in the provi dence of God, unto the exercise of those relationships in life, which require authority on the one part, and obedience on the other; and who are consequently brought into that close connexion, the one with the other, in the various concerns of life, which requires a line of conduct adapted to promote mutual benefit. Observe, first, the master's salutation. The words are few, but they contain much, and we may consider them as an evidence of his piety: "The Lord be with you." Here is the simple expression of a heart influenced by the fear of God, acknowledging the hand of God as giving "all things richly to enjoy," and the blessing of God as the source of all good. The man who thus prays for the presence of God to be with others, it is reasonable to conclude, had first prayed for it to be with himself. Nor does his piety appear to have been any impediment in the way of his attention to his proper calling. He was not overcharged with the cares of this life; though he was 66 not slothful in business," he was at the same time" fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." These are not inconsistent the one with the other; it is a great mistake to suppose, that true religion unfits a man for due attention to the duties of that state of life in which Divine Providence has placed him: it is, in fact, just the contrary; the more a man knows of the ways of God, the more anxious he is to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," the more diligent, honest, and upright will he be in the pursuit of his lawful calling. He will aim to do all things "for the glory of God," and to show to all around him, that his religion is something more than a mere name or outward profession. We have in this salutation, also, an example of humility. Observe, Boaz was a mighty man of wealth;" he had fields and possessions to a considerable extent, he had reapers sufficiently numerous to give occasion for an overseer to direct their labours, and therefore, it might be said, he was not obliged to visit his reapers at all, or that he was not in a situation to be obliged to place himself in such familiar contact with them; but in the school of piety he had learned a lesson of humility. Though he was rich, he does not boast of his riches, nor of the number of his acres, nor of the extent of his flocks; neither does he visit his poor reapers in any spirit of haughty pride: he preserves the proper station of the master; yet, remembering that in the sight of God all men stand on one common level, that the rich and the poor are the children of the same Father, and that a time will come, when they shall each return to the grave, and mingle with the earth, he "condescends to men of low estate." He treats his servants, therefore, as equal with himself, as to the regard of that Almighty God who is no respecter of persons," and as having a fair claim on his personal regard and kindness. We have also an example of affection. This is strongly marked in the words of his address: "The Lord be with you. Here is a prayer for the greatest of all blessings to be given to them; for where the presence of God is, in the sense in which Boaz here intended, there is with it all that man can want for time or eternity most fully secured. Let but God be with us, and it matters not where we are: a burning fiery furnace shall be deprived of its power to injure, if the God "who is able to deliver" be there, Dan. iii. 19–27; a den of lions shall do "no manner of hurt" to his servant, if his God do but send his angel to shut their mouths, Dan. vi. 22. A prison cannot restrain his disciples from prayer and praise at midnight, and an earthquake shall shake their prison walls for their deliverance, at his command, Acts xvi. 25, 26. A wilderness in the uttermost part of the earth shall be a habitation of comfort, if the Lord be there to manifest his love. Let God be with us, and it matters little whether we are rich or poor, bond or free. The affection of this pious farmer for his reapers is shown in this, that he prays for the presence of that God who could give them strength for all their toils, protection from all dangers, comfort in all sorrows, and provision for all their wants; and when all these shall cease to need his kindness and care, could give them an eternity of rest in his own presence. What more could he desire for them? An answer from heaven to this one petition, "The Lord be with you," would be a greater blessing than any other which could be bestowed upon them. The salutation also evidently affords us an example of thankfulness. We may easily suppose this pious man, passing from his habitation to his fields, in devout meditation on the goodness of God, in thus enabling him, once more, to witness the productions of the earth to come forth in their due season. The valleys standing "thick with corn," 66 would lead his mind to contemplate the goodness of Him, who, having given "the early and latter rain," caused the earth to yield her increase." There would be no self confident boasting of his own skill or good management, but looking around on the portion assigned him, he would thankfully acknowledge the source from whence it came, and his dependence on the bounty of God, who diffuses his blessings as seemeth good in his own sight. Such appears to have been the character of Boaz; a character confirmed by all the subsequent part of the short history given of him. There is no doubt, that such a man would possess much solid happiness in his own soul, anc would also impart much to others. His servants would be fully sensible of the value of such a master, for it is most likely they had been accustomed to this kind of religious intercourse with him on many other occasions. Such an example is worthy of imitation; but before we proceed to any further observations upon it, let us consider a few points connected with the reapers' answer. As in the former case, the words are few, but they are full of interest; "The Lord bless thee." Here we have also an excellent example. The hearts which could so readily respond to the prayer of their master, the lips which could utter such a prayer for him, we may fairly consider, had been opened to show forth the praises of God. These words are an acknowledgment that the blessing of God is the chief good, and a prayer for the outpouring of that blessing on the kind master in whose service they were employed. They appear to manifest a sincere regard for his welfare, and afford a proof of their own devotedness to the service of God in the first place. Their religion had not led them to neglect the proper duties of their station, or to be wanting in due respect to their master. Their conduct seems to have been agreeable to the directions afterwards given by Paul to Timothy: "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit," 1 Tim. vi. 1, 2. The answer also affords an example of gratitude. It is the language of meekness and respect, and discovers a grate ful sense of the kindness shown to them. It is not an unbecoming assumption of familiarity beyond their station. They receive the morning salutation of their master, not forgetting the different stations in which the providence of God has been pleased to place them; and return it in language, which shows the absence of all jealousy and dissatisfaction, as to the disproportion of their possessions in this world. Affection is mutual, they return that of their master with the expression of their own. They like his service, they wish to promote his prosperity and happiness, and to make him all the return in their power, by grateful faithfulness for his kindness to them. It discovers also their contentment. In a cheerful pursuit of their daily task, they are satisfied with their lot. They appear to know that God has appointed in his providence one man to possess riches, another to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow; one to rule, another to serve; and that this distinction is permitted in infinite wisdom. They fulfil their duty, they receive their wages, and eat their bread with cheerfulness, and pray for him who gives them employment, "The Lord bless thee." Among such reapers, such servants in any situation, we may well suppose there would be much of true happiness enjoyed; and truly may we say, Happy is the master so favoured. Pious, grateful, contented, praying servants, are a great blessing. Happy would be our land, could our fields always witness the master walking in to salute his reapers, with words and feelings like these, "The Lord be with you;" and the reapers returning it with, "The Lord bless thee." Reader, let me ask, did you ever witness such a scene as this? Is it a usual practice throughout our land? Were you ever present, when a master entered his field, and thus intreated the presence of God on his labourers, or when one speaking in the name of his fellows, intreated a blessing on his master? As yourself a master, or a servant, have you ever been a party in such a transaction? It is to be feared, such a scene is not very common, and yet you will allow it has much in it to excite our admiration; it would be scriptural, it would be truly gratifying, and if it were general, would be attended with most important benefits to the whole community. If both masters and servants were under the in. fluence of true religion, would it not be a great advantage to both? Let reason judge. Yet though this conviction must |