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whose history is here recorded, who being a Gentile became a convert to the true faith, and marrying Boaz, the great grandfather of David, was one of those from whom Christ sprung, according to the flesh, and an illustrious figure of the Gentile church. It is thought this book was written by the prophet Samuel. Noami did not mean to persuade Ruth to return to the false gods she had formerly worshiped, but by this manner of speech, insinuated to her that if she would go with her, she must renounce her false gods and turn to the Lord the God of Israel for it is a good thing to have a right understanding and a proper judgment, so that we may discern the things that makes for our peace; for the custom was in redeeming, by giving pledges to confirm the same, by plucking off his shoes and to give to his neighbors. This was the testimony in Israel and all the people that were in the gate and the elders, said that we are witnesses. Now let us in the gospel dispensation, pluck off our shoes, that is, the world, then we can walk upright, on the level with ail men, then we can keep the land-mark always in view, then we can say that we are Jesus' witnesses. Ruth. 4: 11.
Sec. 9. The First Rook of Samuel.
This and the following book, are called by the Hebrews, the book of Samuel, because they contain the history of Samuel and of the two kings Saul and David, whom he annointed. They are more commonly named by the fathers, the First and Second Books of Kings. As to the writer of them, it is the common opinion that Samuel composed the first book as far as the 25th chapter, and that, he prophet Nathan and Gad finished the first and wrote the second book. "And if one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him, but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him." By these words Eli would have his sons understand that by their abase of sacred things, and of the very sacrifices which were appointed to appease the Lord, they deprived themselves of the ordinary means of reconciliation with God, which was by sacrifices, the more, because they were the Chief Priests, whose business it was, to intercede for all others, they had no other to offer sacrifice to and to make atonement for them, in consequence of their manifold sacrileges, he
