Contemplations. LIB. XI. 1 could not have much after that fcorching in het tr.tvel,in her gleanings·Himfelftels A ~cr,what drew his heart to her, (A/the City of my peoplt dothltn,.,tb.r th;u art A.V<rtuous woman) Vertue inwhomfoever it is found, is agreat dowry; and where itmeets widran heart that knowes how to value it,is accounted grea~er riches rhan a! that is hid in the bowels ofthe earth. The cornc heape of Jtoa~ was but chaffe to this and his money droffc. ' As aman thathad learned tofqum!his aC!ions to the law of Go~Bo~z proceeds legally w1th h1s tlvall;and tds h1m ofa parcel ofEitmelechs land(wh1ch,It is like,upon hiS removal roMoab,bc hadahcnated;)wh•ch hc(as the next krnfman)might have 'power to rcdecme;yct fo as he mu!t purchafe rhewifo ofthe dece:ifedwiththe land. Every kinfman is nota Boaz;theman could li!len tothcland,ifit hadbeen free from the clog ofa neceffary marriage;but now hewill rather leave the land,than take rhe B w ifc,leltwhiles he lhould preferve Elimelechs inheritance, he fhould deftray his owne; for the next feed, which he fhowd haveby 1/.utb, fhould not be his heir. bur his deceafed kinfmans ; How knew he whether Godmight not by that wife,fend heires enough .for both their e!lates ? rather had he therefore incurre a manifeft injullice, than hazard the danger of his inheritance. The Law of Gad bcnrnd him to raife up feed to the next in blood; the care of his inhtrirance drawes him to anegleC! of his duty, thoughwith mfamyand reproach ; and now be had rather his face lhould be fpit upon, and his name fhould be called The houft of him 10ho[~ /boo war pulledoff, than to refervc thehonour of him, that did his brother right, to his owne prejudict. How many are thcre,that doe fo over-love tbcir iffne,as thoc they regard neither c linne nor fhame in advancing it ? And that will rather indangcr their foulc, than lofc thel r name ? It is awofull inheritancethatmakes men licirs ofthe vengeance of Gad. B••zisgladto take the advantageofhis rcfufall; and koldsrhat ihoo (whichwas the figne ofhis tenure)m!>rc worth than all the land of e/imelech. And whereas other wives purchafe theit husbandswitha large dowry, this man purcbafeth his wifeata dcarcrate, and thinks hisbargainehappy. All the r.. b!lance ofthe earth, is not wortha .-erruous and prudent 1.-ife; which Boaz doth now fo rejoyce in, as if he this dayonlybegan robewealthy. Now is 1/.uth ta~en ~to the hou!e of Bnaz; fhethat before bad faid,ihc was not like one of his matdens,ts nOW' become thf!ir Mi!lrelfe. This day fhe bath gleaned all the fields and barnesof attcn ,~,"·'"' • -.~.<-L-- •'-r•~mil!ht benowantin her D happindfc) byagraciousbusbandfhehathgamedan napl'y tc:cu; •uu n••u ,1,c honour, above all th~ Dames oflfrael, to be the grcatgranCI-morbcr of a King, of 'David, ofthe r.Mejitab. • • • . . Now is Marahturncd backagamctoN.s""' '; and Oryah, 1f fhc hcareof th1s 1n Moab cannot but envy at her lillershappineffe. 0 the furcandbounrifull paimcnts of rh~ Almighty! Who evcrcameunderbis~ing in vainclWhoever loft by trufting him ? Who ever forfookthe Mo•bof thisWorld for the true Ifrael, and did not at !all rejoyce in the change ?. LL cuf\omcs, where they are onceentertained, are notealily difchugcd ; Polygamy, befidcs carnal) delight, might now plead age and example: !o as even e/lta11ah (though a Levire) is tainted wnh the finneof Lamech; Likeasfafhionsof attire, which atthe fit!\ were diiliked as uncomely, yet when they arc once growne common , aretal<enuJ:> ofrhcgrave!l. Yet thisfinhe (asthcncurrantwiththetimc) could not make Elkanah notrc;ligious. The Houfoof Gad in Shilo was duly frequented of him; often times,alone,in his ordinarycourfe ofattendancci withal!his males, thnce E
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