and keeps it from rolling to one fide or the other? Let us then have the modesty to conceive, there may be other things as well as the atonement of Chrift, equally mysterious, yet undoubtedly true. They who believe this earth hangs poised in the air, on the credit of philofophers, cannot reasonably reject the idea of Christ's atonement, on the credit of scripture.

SINCE then God Almighty hath thus put the means of our falvation, in a manner, in our own power, by leaving us at option, whether we will accept, or not, the terms he hath offered; let us. not be fo loft to ourselves, as to go on in any finful course, till at length our Sin find us out; but let us manfully endeavour to find it out first, wherever it lurks among the deceits of our own hearts, or among the temptations of the world: -Infidelity, where proper means of obtaining evidence have been neglected, is certainly a high offence. This fin, and whatever elfe we detect, let us bring to the throne of grace, and implore God's pardon through the merits of Chrift.-When we have done our utmost to discover our fins, still it is to be feared, our best endeavours will not be wholly effectual. Many ignorances, and negli

gences will still be left behind; and each of us, n the true spirit of chriftianity, should lay his hand on his breast, and in the language of the penitent publican, cry out, God be merciful to me a finner!

SERMON VII.

2 PETER, ii. 15.

THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY, AND GONE ASTRAY; FOLLOWING THE WAY OF BALAAM, THE SON OF BOSOR, WHO LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

ST. PETER, in this paffage, alludes to a very extraordinary man, and a very extraordinary story, the story of Balaam, which I have just been reading to you in the leffon of the day; and as it may, in fome parts, be apt to mislead you, I thought it not amifs to accompany it with an explanation.

In the following discourse, therefore, I shall first explain to you the character of Balaam; and

fhall

fhall then point out to you fuch ufes, as arife from the story of this fingular man.

BALAAM lived at that period of the jewish hiftory, when the Ifraelites were taking poffeffion of the promised land. The Amorites, who had oppofed their progrefs, had fuffered a total defeat. A fecond battle had reduced the dominions of Bafan; and the victorious army now encamped on the banks of Jordan, was preparing to enter the country of Moab.

Balak, the fon of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time. This prince terrified at the approach of fo numerous a host; which, as he expreffively phrased it, was like the ox, licking up the grass of the field; and dreading to be involved in this general ruin, caft his despairing eyes around for affiftance. Human arms, he found, were vain. The victorious army marched under the conduct of fupernatural power. Laying afide therefore all defign of regular defence, he refolved to oppose them with their own weapons; and to call fupernatural power to his affiftance alfo.

In this defign who could ferve him like Balaam the fon of Beor-Balaam, the favoured prophet of those times, to whom all the nations around, in their difficulties had recourse.

This holy man lived at a distance from Moab, on the banks of the Euphrates, in the country of Mefopotamia*.

The distance however was no obftacle. Meffengers were immediately dispatched, with the rewds of divination in their hands, to bring the prophet to curfe Ifrael; and make them an eafy prey.

But the matter was not fo easily accomplished. The prophet was forbidden by God, to have any hand in curfing a favoured people; and the mesfengers returned with difappointment to their king.

Balak, however, ftill perfifted. Meffengers more honourable were fent to Balaam; and offers more proportioned to the fervice, were made. But Balaam's firm foul was proof against the lure of riches. If Balak, faid he, would give me his houfe full of filver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord, my God, to do less or more.

God however permitting him, he at length accompanied this honourable embaffy to the court of Balak. But here he perfevered in the fame noble and upright behaviour. Inftead of humouring the king's paffions, and curfing his enemies, he fupported the character of a great pro

• DEUTERONOMY, xxiii. 4.

phet;