towards their servants, and servants towards their employers, just as Boaz and his men felt towards each other? Here was nothing of that free and easy manner, which seems to forget that God would have us honour our superiors; but there was a respectful courtesy and affection, which ought to exist between us. Boaz did not forget that his harvesters were men like himself, depending upon God's blessing: neither did they forget that he was their superior and their master.

True religion moulds a man's whole character and manner. It leads him to behave rightly in every condition of life. It makes kind masters and faithful servants. It produces love and harmony among persons of all ranks. And whilst it teaches the rich to be humble,

it teaches also the poor to be gentle and respectful. Its motto is, " Honour all men, love the brotherhood."

There must have been some cheerful hearts in that harvest field, where all felt that they had to do with so kind a master. The work was not done grudgingly by them; "not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord and not to men." There was no working hard just when the master's eye was upon them, and then idling when his back was turned. No, they felt their labour was a pleasure; and when their employer came among them, they were glad to see him, and his presence cheered them in their toil.

"The Lord be with you," "The Lord bless thee;" these were the words that passed. Ah, how often are those words uttered, when we mean but little by them! When we part with a friend we love, what can we wish him better, than that the Lord should be with him in all his ways, and bless him in all his undertakings? How much is contained in these few short words! Here is a wish for his body, and for his soul; a wish that reaches through his present life into that which is eternal. Let us never utter this wish lightly; but let it come from our hearts, and spring from a warm religious feeling within us.

Boaz was well acquainted with his poorer neighbours; and as his eye rested upon them in the field, he had

This was kindness that she had no

reason to expect from him. Why should he thus look upon a poor solitary stranger? "Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" The answer of Boaz shows that he was well acquainted with her history, and with her exemplary conduct to Naomi, and the great sacrifice she had made in leaving her own country. And it shows too that he felt a pleasure in assisting her for the Lord's sake. "And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law, since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast

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