tne means of doing it had been within his reach. Balaam's fears were aroused; and his conscience may have been in some degree awakened. "I have sinned," said he; " for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again."

What reluctance this worldly-minded and wicked man exhibits, promptly and thoroughly to do his duty! He clings to his idols. How express have been the several declarations of the Almighty against his going to see the king of Moab. Thou shalt not go. Thou shalt not curse. I went out to withstand thee. Thy way is perverse before me. But he cannot abandon the riches and the honors that glitter before his imagination, and inflame his selfish passions. He palliates his conduct, even while acknowledging that he did wrong, in showing such cruelty towards the poor animal which he rode. Yet he makes no confession of his greater guilt, in violating the positive commands of Jehovah. "If it displease thee, I will get me back again." If; if:-Had not the angel just told him that it did? Thy way is perverse before me." How can he doubt or hesitate? He will still go, if only he can be satisfied that his life will not be in danger, nor some terrible judgment overtake him, from that Being whose power he dreads, while to obey whom he has no disposition.

"He that heing often reproved hardeneth his

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neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Balaam persists in his course. He is again permitted to have his own way, and must abide the consequences. "Go," said the angel;— "Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee that thou shalt speak."

Mysterious messenger! The angel of the Lord, and yet giving his injunctions with an underived and divine authority! It must have been a manifestation of Jehovah himself, such as had already appeared to the patriarchs of old, and the same, as we have reason to believe, which, in the land of Judea, was God manifest.in the flesh, in the person of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Balaam pursued his journey, and Balak hearing of his approach, went out, quite to the borders of his kingdom, to meet him. It was an interview which both had strongly desired. The king of Moab had been so impatient for it, that he could not brook the delay which had taken place. "Did I not earnestly send unto thee," said he, addressing Balaam, "to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor ?"..

"Lo, I am come unto thee," was the reply. After all the restraints which have been imposed upon me, and the obstacles placed in my way, admire rather the inflexible perseverance which has led me to overcome them; and let us rejoice toge

ther that thus far, at least, the object of our wishes is attained. But still, I have been permitted to come, subject to the will of that Almighty Being whose power is irresistible; who can do with me as he pleases; and before whose vengeance I shudder and tremble. Have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak."

Thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. Did not this mandate yet ring in the ears of Balaam? He knew how utterly irreconcileable it was with the object for which alone Balak had sent for him, and to accomplish which he was now treating him with such striking marks of respect. Did he hope to have this mandate repealed, or in some way to gratify the wishes of the king, at least so far as to retain his favor, and partake of his bounty?

Such hopes must have lurked in the breast of Balaam. He was a timid and cautious man; dreading indeed to meet the tremendous displeasure of the Almighty, by what he might conceive to be a direct violation of his command not to curse the Israelites. But he was, also, the abject slave of covetousness and ambition, and could not let go the prize that seemed to be so nearly within his grasp. He accompanied Balak to Kirjath-hazoth, the capital of his dominions. Immediate preparations were made for the offering up of a costly sacrifice

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