hands together. "I called thee," said he, "to curse my enemies; and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore, now, flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour."

But Balaam said, "Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord; but what the Lord said, that will I speak."

Balak said falsely, that the Lord had kept Balaam back from honour, because he would not permit him to curse his people,-for there can be no real honour in breaking any of the commands of God.3 Sin is the transgression of the law. Is it not shameful to disobey a good and kind parent? It is. And how much more shameful, then, must it be to offend God! Is it not shameful to steal, and curse, and not to love God? It is. Then all sin is shameful. Living and dying in sin, we shall awake" to shame and everlasting contempt."

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Before this false prophet went home, he told Balak some of those things which should happen in the history of the people whom he wished to be "There shall come," said he, cursed. a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall arise out of Israel; and he shall have dominion."

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The great Redeemer was, no doubt, referred to by the Star which should arise out of Israel; though Balaam did not understand the language which he was uttering. So Caiaphas the high priest prophesied, that one man, even Jesus, should die for the people;* but he did not know fully what he said.

The great Deliverer is called a star to denote his glory. For he is the "King of kings, and Lord of lords." Think of the names he bears, he is "the Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Think of what he has done: the stormy seas heard his word, and became calm; the helpless paralytic arose at his bidding, took up his bed, and carried it home."

* John xi. 51.

At his command, the tongue of the dumb was unloosed, and sang his praises. The devils fled at his rebuke. Even the dead heard his voice, and came from the tomb." Yea, " he was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.' And there is one work which he has done mightier than all these,-he bare the wrath of God, so justly due to the sins of all who fly to him for salvation; no created being, however high, could have done this:

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""Twas great to speak a world from nought;

'Twas greater to redeem!"6

By the "sceptre," which it is said he shall hold, is meant his authority and dominion; for " of his kingdom there shall be no end." "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." "His name shall endure for ever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed." I pray thee, O Lord, to make me

one of his happy subjects.

This wicked prophet said, he should see the great Redeemer, "but not nigh." This looks as if he foretold his own wretched state. For there is reason to think, that Balaam lived and died in his sins, as he was slain when fighting against the very people whom he wished to curse." It is an awful thought, that a man may have the gifts of an angel, and yet finally perish." He may sometimes faintly wish, to" die the death of the righteous," yet go on in sin, die the death of the wicked, and be lost for ever.

QUESTIONS.

1. What do they see whose eyes are opened by God's Spirit? 2. What did Balaam say of God's people?

3. In what is there no real honour?

4. What will be our state, if we live and die in sin?

5. What are the names which the Redeemer bears?

6. Mention some of the works which the Redeemer has

wrought?

7. What kind of dominion is that of the Lord Jesus?

8. Who shall be blessed in Christ?

9. How did Balaam live and die? 10. What is an awful thought?

STORY XIII.

RAHAB AND THE SPIES.

THE people of the land of Canaan had become so very vile, that the cry of their sins came up before God; and he was so angry, that he told Joshua to cut them off, and to take the country.

As he was now coming near one of the cities of the land called Jericho, he sent two young men to see how things were, and how he had best attack it.

Now there was a woman whose name was Rahab, who had a house which was on the wall of the town, where it is supposed she used to lodge and entertain strangers and travellers.

It seems very likely, that she had often heard from the people who came to her house, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt, and how he had fought on their side, and given many kings and