CHARLES.

"And Balaam rose up in

the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab."

MAMMA. Now you see Balaam did not wait for the princes of Balak to call him, and it seems that he used all speed to avail himself of what we might almost call the reluctant permission God had given him.

CHARLES. Mamma, why did Balaam ride an ass?

MAMMA. That was, and still is, in the eastern countries, the common mode of travelling, especially for sheiks, or religious men; and the asses in those countries are much larger and swifter than ours, and are tended with the same care as horses.

We shall not have time to go to the end of the chapter to-day, therefore we will leave off at this place; but I should like to make with you a few

reflections on the folly and sin of Balaam.

I call it folly, because we may suppose that Balaam did not intend or expect that he should be betrayed into those various acts of wickedness which we learn from his subsequent history, and trusted in his own strength; and sin, because he must have acted against the dictates of his conscience. Those who really wish to do the work of the Lord, and to fulfil His pleasure, will carefully avoid all occasions of temptation which may entice them from their duty. How can we with any consistency pray daily not to be led into temptation, and at the same time place ourselves in such situations as we ought to know are fraught with danger to our souls? Let no one imagine that he can say to his own desires and inclinations, Thus far shall

you go, and no farther! farther! We may be assured that every time we suffer our sense of right to be overcome in any degree, in the same proportion will our abhorrence of evil, and our strength to resist the enemy of our souls, be weakened. "Let him therefore that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."* And let us carefully guard against the first advances of Satan, not trusting in our own strength, but praying for guidance and support from Him that is mighty to save.

* 1 Corinthians x. 12.

CONVERSATION FOURTH.

CHARLES. From what

you said yesterday, Mamma, I think you will have no objection to go on with the story of Balaam.

MAMMA. I am quite ready. We left him just setting off with the princes of Moab to go to Balak. We shall now attend him on his journey. CHARLES. I am going to begin reading at the twenty-second verse of the twenty-second chapter of Numbers. "And God's anger was kindled

because he went."

MAMMA. That is, because he went with a wrong disposition. In the Arabic version, there is a word expressing this disposition, "God was

angry with him because he went covetously."

CHARLES. Do you understand Arabic, Mamma ?

МАММА. No, my dear. But several pious men have made that and other eastern languages their study, for the express purpose of throwing more light on the sacred volume, and have published their discoveries and remarks.

CHARLES. Then I think they have made very good use of their learning, and we are very much obliged to

them

MAMMA. It ought to be the aim of every one to turn all his labours and acquirements to the honour of God and the service of his fellow-creatures. Did we keep this end in view it would sanctify and ennoble all our pursuits.