Oh! then, my brethren, seek the real grace of God in Christ, which may convert your hearts, and renew you in his likeness. Beware of acting contrary to your known duty in any matter. Oh! fear the seductions of evil men, and the allurements of earthly wealth and honours. These are the devil's gilded baits by which he captivates men's souls. Live in the service of Christ, and seek your portion from him. So will he be to you what he was to Israel. He will be your protector from all evil; he will guide you into all good. Men may curse but he will bless. They may seek to do you evil, but he will make them minister to your good.

SERMON VII.

ATTEMPTS OF BALAK AND BALAAM.

NUMBERS XXIII. 7, 8.

And he took up his parable and said, 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. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?

In the last exposition we saw something of the character of Balaam, a man unto whom God had given some discernment of divine things, and who was considered in the character of a prophet and soothsayer, and supposed to be possessed of much more supernatural power than he really possessed. Instigated by his covetous desire to obtain the rewards which Balak had promised him, he

came earnestly desirous to comply with his wishes, and to curse the Israelites. He came in direct contradiction of the declared will of God. God had miraculously opposed his progress, when notwithstanding he was determined to go; the angel had threatened his life, and the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, had forbidden the madness of the prophet. Still he went: and we have now to consider two attempts which these associates made to procure the accomplishment of their wishes, and the manner in which they were frustrated to their utter disappointment, vexation, and rage.

I. They begin the first attempt by preparing sacrifices. By the direction of Balaam seven altars are erected, and a bullock and a ram offered upon each of them to induce God to favour them. Well might the reproof have been addressed to Balaam which was afterwards given to Saul, "Hath the Lord as much delight in sacrifices and offerings as in obeying the voice of the Lord: behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of lambs." But, blinded by his

own covetousness, Balaam thought that God would be pleased with this large offering made to him, and goes and tells him with self-approbation what he had done. And now God does what he had told him should be the case he puts a word into his mouth, and sends him back to Balak to pronounce it, under a powerful influence from himself, compelling him, even against his interest and his will, to declare it as it was given. This was the word, or at least a part of it, which I have just read to you as my text. In them he acknowledges what was the object of his journey, and it renders the words which follow much more striking when he says, "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, saying, come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel." Brought for this purpose, and wishing to fulfil it, that he might receive the promised rewards, the Spirit of God compels him to say, "How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?" Here he states the utter impossibility of all attempts to injure those against whom God has no controversy.

Here were his selected people, going to the accomplishment of his own high purpose, and nothing which man could do was able to prevent it.

Now this declaration, looked at in a spiritual view, is most encouraging to every true believer. He is hence assured that if the Lord be not against him, no powers of earth or hell can materially hurt him. He may calculate upon having those who will hate, and desire to destroy him, and who by various means will attempt to do it. But if the Lord be on my side, may the true believer say, "if the Lord be on my side, when men rise up against me they shall not swallow me up quick, however wrathfully they may be displeased at me." For by the prospective wisdom and almighty power of God, all the desires of his enemies shall fail, and their machinations be rendered abortive. Safely may he say with the Apostle, "The Lord is on my side, and I will not fear what man can do unto me." If he be in the way of duty, if he be going according to the will and word of God, God will protect him from