I. In his Unassailed Profession he seems to be one whom we might well follow. What clear knowledge was his! this knowledge apparent not only from the wondrous declarations of his, contained in the 22nd and following chapters of the book of Numbers, but knowledge of moral truth, evidenced by his answer to Balak's inquiry (for such it appears to be1) contained in the 6th chapter of the book of Micah. "Wherewith" (is the question asked) "shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God?" &c. . . . . and Balaam's answer is, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"—here is a casting aside the superstitions of the heathen, here, love is asserted to be, with humility, pure religion before God. Yes; he saw the truth, but he saw it as men see fire at a distance, it does not warm them-does not affect them; and how many see truth in no other way! few hearers of God's word, but are persuaded of another life beyond the present, few but are persuaded of the judgment to come, few but are conscious that they are now sowing that which they shall soon reap; but with the many this know

1 See Micah vi. 5. Bishop Butler takes this view.

ledge has never influenced them, they can define truth and discourse on truth, yea, argue for the truth, but it has not laid hold on the inner man, it has not bent their will to God's will, "the light that is in them is but darkness;" how truly may we add in such case, "How great is that darkness!"

What gifts too were his! God deigned to speak by him, and who can doubt on reading his words, the eloquence with which he spake? who can hesitate to believe that such powers now would draw multitudes to hear and eagerly to press upon his steps? And yet what to him are all his gifts, what would he have given. when stricken down on the fatal field2 to have been able to exchange all those attractive gifts for some little true grace, some oil of the Spirit, some evidence that he belonged to the people of God. Now, men idolize gifts-every bond of attachment to a minister of God is at times broken by the presence of some one superior in gifts; he may have been a preacher of the truth as it is in Jesus, a visitor from house to house, a sympathizer in the sorrows and joys of his flock, and yet, save with a remnant, all is forgotten, when more gifts, greater fluency, more dazzling attractions are else

St. Matthew vi. 23.

2 Numbers xxxi. 8.

where exhibited; covet earnestly the best gifts but withal know that there is "a more excellent way," and that gifts without grace are but "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

Some fear of God was his. To say that there was that holy filial fear which the believer hath, would be to exceed the truth; but none can study his history without seeing that there were some things to which his desires impetuously led him, from which his fear of God, for a time at least, kept him back; some things which he dared not to do, until the ear of conscience became dull, the heart more and more hardened; and the longgathering flood of iniquity bursting forth, swept all resistance away.

Let us now observe him under

II. The First Allurement. The Israelites have pitched in the plains of Moab. Balak the king of Moab, dreads their approach, and eagerly courts the aid of Balaam:-" Come now therefore,” saith he, "I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me:... and the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian depart with the rewards of divination in their hand, and come to Balaam.” The allurement to such a mind as his was

11 Cor. xii. 31; xiii. 1. 2 Numbers xxii., &c.

66

The king of

great. It was a royal message. Midian and the king of Moab have united to send the joint embassy; the messengers of kings stand at Balaam's gate; they bow before him, they beg his aid. There is power, brethren, in the smile of a king, the favour of the great, the good words of the noble; the world's praise the world's frown-exerts over us all more influence than we are ready to own; and if not clad in the armour of God we resist not perseveringly. It was a flattering message: "I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." "And is it so ?" might the prophet think; “ am I in such esteem? have I such power to bless and to curse?"...These were sparks that there was material in his heart too ready to catch fire by, for how few can contend against praise! how many strong men have been cast down wounded by adulation! how eagerly do we seek for it when not granted, how gladly welcome it when it comes! and yet how often is it as a death-wound to the soul!. . . . It was a gainful message. The rewards of divination were in their hand that gold which his soul coveted, those "wages of unrighteousness" which finally prevailed, these in their very presence ply him hard. Alas! the god of this world has

his bribes, and they are not slight ones; unless our eyes are so opened as "to see," by faith, "Him who is invisible"-unless we have the heart" to look to that recompense of reward" which is beyond-" the treasures of Egypt" will be closed with, "the reproach of Christ" be rejected. How did he meet the allurement. He met it with a wavering mind, he met it with a-"Lodge here this night;" he met it not at arm's length, but with a desiring look, a partial embrace. "Behold there is a people," said they," come out of Egypt"-could Balaam be ignorant Whose those people were, to Whom they belonged? could he who had the gift of prophecy and knew the knowledge of the Most High, doubt as to Whose mighty hand, and Whose outstretched arm, had brought them out of Egypt, and would bring them into Canaan; and yet-"lodge here this night." Oh! the sin has already crossed the threshold, has already made a lodgment; the strongest barrier, of first refusal, uncompromising denial, is already thrown down. It is met with a false offering to conscience. Something must be done to pacify conscience, to cloud the eye of the mind, that it see not clearly the declivity that is before it, so he adds, "and I will bring you word again as the LORD shall speak