on the part of the king. He hoped his own gods might have an influence in the weighty transactions which now engrossed his attention, and he was anxious to propitiate their favor. Balaam and the princes of Moab seem to have been present at the performance of these rites; and thus this miserable time-server, who professed to fear the true God, countenanced the worshipping of idols!

On the following day, the king took Balaam, in company with all the princes, to a lofty eminence, -"the high places of Baal,"-where this god of the Moabites was worshipped, that he might have a view of the Israelites, even to the furthest extremity of their encampment. It was done with the expectation that the fatal curse would now be pronounced upon this whole people, as they were spread out beneath the sight of Balaam. But he was not prepared thus to expose himself to the divine vengeance; though he was ready enough to see whether it were not possible to procure a change in the determinations of Jehovah.

He directed the king to build seven altars on the spot, and to prepare seven oxen and seven rams for the sacrifice. It was done, and Balak and Balaam made the offerings; as we have reason to think, to propitiate the favor of Jehovah, the God whom Balaam professed to worship. He then said he would retire, to ascertain what the Lord would have him to do; while Balak should remain by the

sacrifice. In the interval, it was the intention of Balaam to practise some kinds of divinations or enchantments; thus strangely mingling the worship of the true God, and an appeal to his decision, with idle and superstitious ceremonies.

While preparing to commence them, or it may be in their very midst, he was met by some manifestation of the divine presence; and immediately boasted of what he had been doing, in the way of offering up a costly sacrifice to the Lord. He perhaps intended by this, to urge with more hopes of success some plea in favor of Balak, and against the Israelitish hosts. But he was allowed no time for such requests. God directed him immediately to return to the king, and the words were given him which he was to speak. However disappointed and reluctant, he could not but obey. He felt the constraining mandate of Omnipotence resting upon him, and knew that resistance would be in vain.

Balak and the princes of Moab were standing by the altars in anxious suspense, when they saw Balaam approaching. As he drew near to make known the result of his inquiry, what strange sounds burst upon their ear! What a conflict of emotions, what disappointed ambition, what mortified pride, must have agitated the breast of him who uttered them! What astonishment, what blasting of their hopes, what a fearful dread of the hosts that were encamped before them, must

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they have felt who heard these portentous words. "Balak, the king of Moab, hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. whom God hath not cursed? or How shall I curse, how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations." (They shall be a peculiar, separate people.) "Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his !"

Well might Balaam, for the moment consciencestruck, utter such a wish! Who does not long for peace in death? How do the wicked often tremble in view of that solemn event! Blessed only are the dead who die in the Lord.

My young friend, do you never make the wish of Balaam your own? Then live the life of the righteous, that you may die their death. Trust not to repentance on a death-bed. Of all hopes this is the most deceitful.

CHAPTER LVIII.

Balaam's prophecies. His character.

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Balak was indignant at what Balaam had said, "What hast thou done unto me?" he exclaimed: "I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast blessed them altogether." Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth," was the reply of Balaam. A noble answer, if he had but felt the true spirit of it in his heart. But see the base and mercenary motives which swayed him. At the request of the king, he went with him to another eminence, the top of Pisgah, whence only the most distant parts of the Israelitish camp were spread before him, the main body being concealed from his sight. Balak hoped, by this change of position to a spot where the imposing appearance of the combined hosts of his enemies would not dismay the heart of Balaam by their countless and formidable numbers, to induce him to change his purpose.

Seven altars were again erected; and similar sacrifices to the first being offered up, Balaam withdrew, as he said, to meet the Lord. With his enchantments it was, that he still vainly hoped this

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time to ensure better success. Presumptuous man ! What a wonder that he did not sink beneath the stroke of divine vengeance on the spot! But God had his own purposes to answer in sparing the life of Balaam a little longer, and sent him back to the king, to pronounce a new blessing on the Israelites What hath the Lord spoken ?" was the anxious He received the answer in a inquiry of Balak. strain of inspired eloquence, which must have again overwhelmed him with disappointment and conGod is not a man, that he should lie; sternation. neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless : and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel." (No idolatry or rebellion, or any conspicuous national sin, now appears among them.) "The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is them. God brought them out of Egypt; among he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time, it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what hath God wrought!" (The present wonderful interposition of Jehovah in behalf of the Israelites, and his signal favors conferred upon them, are but the indications of the still greater things which he