tures of God, and as such, however now dẻfiled with sin, the objects of his love and care, and redeemable by Jesus Christ. We should remember what we ourselves were and are, and if there be any good dwelling in us, who it is that has made us to differ. We should also think (and highly pleasant will be the thought) that as we ourselves were turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, so also may others; and that there is no heart too hard for divine grace to soften it, no will so perverse, which Almighty love is not able to subdue. Yes, brethren, let us judge all men capable of salvation; and let us hope that the time will come, when those that are now last shall be first; those that are now despised shall be honourable; those that are now polluted shall be purified; and those, who are low among mankind, shall be exalted to a high degree of glory. Let us judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord. May the God of all, the God of all grace cleanse our hearts, and make us fit to enter into his heavenly kingdom. SERMON XIV. NUMBERS Xxii. 84. And Balaam said unto the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not, that thou stoodest in the way against me. Now, therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. THESE words are the conclusion of a very remarkable story, which, upon a cursory examination, presents many difficulties to our vices; yet, if we examine it closely, we shall discover a train of instruction, which it seems intended to convey to the mind of every sincere enquirer. We learn in the beginning of the chapter, that the children of Israel having conquered Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, came forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab, which greatly excited the fears of Balak their king, who expected nothing less than utter destruction from them. Anxious to know what would be his fate, he consulted a Prophet, Balaam, the son of Beor, who spake, as seems clear from the history, according to the word of the Lord. At least he had done so formerly, and upon this occasion he made a fresh profession of his integrity; for though Balak, with the view of inducing him to curse his enemies, offered him the rewards of divination, and promised to promote him to great honour, yet he nobly said, like a faithful servant of God, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more." Excellent resolution! In order to confirm him in it, "God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him—If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them, but yet the word, which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And the anger of the Lord was kindled because he went." What! Was the Lord angry with Balaam, because he obeyed his word? No; but Balaam began now to ponder on the rewards of divination. He began now to think of the great honour, to which Balak promised to promote him, and his resolution began to fail; and though he might not intend to speak in direct opposition to what the Lord should command, yet he was in hopes he might somehow or other evade the precept, and thus comply with Balak's wishes. That this was really the intention of the Prophet, we learn from Saint Peter, who tells us, |