SERMON IV.

BALAAM'S PROPHECY.

NUMBERS XXiv. 5, 6.

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar-trees beside the waters.

THERE is among Christians a lamentable ignorance of the Word of GOD. Although copies of the Sacred Scriptures, translated into almost all the languages of the earth, are distributed far and wide, it is to be feared that few can say with David, "Oh how I love thy Law! it is my meditation all the day." Who, that examines what progress he has made in the knowledge of God's Word, can refrain from the acknowledgment, that his acquaintance with it is partial and very imperfect? Nor is this true merely with reference to those parts of Scripture which are seldom or never brought before us; for the portions of the Bible which we have heard read in the stated services of the Church, even from our infancy, are but little known and considered. These observations apply with peculiar force to the Prophetic Scriptures. These the generality of Christians totally neglect.

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They seem agreed to leave Prophecy, as a sealed book, never to be opened: and though St. Peter calls it " a sure word, unto which we shall do well to take heed," it is as little read and laid to heart, as if it belonged not to the "lively" and inspired "Oracles of GOD." Let it not be said, that it is hard to be understood. This is commonly urged by those who have been at little or no pains to ascertain its meaning. With prayer for the teaching of the HOLY SPIRIT, without whose influence the plainest line in the Bible will be of no saving benefit to the soul-with diligent reference to different parts of Scripture, "comparing (as St. Paul says) spiritual things with spiritual”and with the numerous aids which may be derived from the writings of learned and pious authors on the subject, we may obtain such an understanding of what the Prophets have written, as will confirm our faith, enliven our hope, and animate our progress in the way to glory.

The prophecies of Balaam are full of instruction and edification. It pleased GOD to employ that wicked man, to be the instrument of communicating predictions, which have been in a course of fulfilment from that day to the present hour. May we, by Divine Grace, be inclined to listen to the sacred strain, which from the top of Peor that looketh toward Jeshimon, the place where Balaam stood, unfolds the destinies and glories of the people of GOD, and, even to us, makes manifest the purposes of Him, who seeth

the end from the beginning, and worketh all things after the counsel of His own sovereign will!

In considering the Prophetic Scriptures, we should remember, that they have, in general, a double sense; and relate to the object described, both literally and spiritually. The text is capable of such an explanation; and we shall therefore consider it as descriptive of the descendants of Jacob, and also of the faithful disciples of CHRIST, who are the spiritual Israel.

The unhappy Balaam, standing on the top of Peor, looked down upon the thousands of Israel encamped on the plains of Moab, and, feeling the inspiration of the present Deity, exclaimed, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!" Such, be it observed, was not the spontaneous utterance of Balaam's heart. He looked with an evil eye upon the prospect before him, and would have gladly cursed, instead of blessing Israel. GOD, however, spake by means of that covetous Prophet; and we are to consider these expressions as the estimate which the LORD forms concerning His people. In His sight, "the tents of Jacob and the tabernacles of Israel"

were goodly. It had pleased Him to choose that nation from among the other nations of mankind, to be His own peculiar portion and treasure. In the midst of their tents had JEHOVAH pitched His Tabernacle ; and this dignified, exalted, rendered lovely and goodly,

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the habitations of Jacob. In that "Tabernacle of Testimony," which was reared in the midst of the encampment of Israel, the Divine WORD of the LORD dwelt between the Cherubim, in type and representation of what He would afterwards do, when He should fulfil the purposes of Covenant-love, and give occasion to St. John to declare, that "the WORD was made "flesh, and tabernacled among us; and we beheld His 'glory, the glory as of the ONLY-BEGOTTEN of the "FATHER, full of grace and truth." It was this habitation of the SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY among the Israelites, which rendered them objects of delight to JEHOVAH. They were perverse and degraded enough in themselves, but the presence of CHRIST their King exalted and ennobled them.-In like manner, concerning the Church of the Redeemer, it may be said, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob!" In the midst of that poor, despised, persecuted flock, "whose names are written in Heaven"-who have, like Israel, been chosen from everlasting from among the mass of the sinful progeny of Adam-who are brought forth " from the "bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of "the Sons of God"—and who, through Divine Grace, differ in sentiment, in character, and in conduct from the ungodly world, and have their faces set toward the Land of promised Rest-I say, in the midst of this flock the LORD hath been pleased to dwell. The world, like Balaam, hates and contemns the true Church of the MOST HIGH; but upon that Church rests

It is alone

the eye of the ALMIGHTY continually. goodly before Him. The pomp and splendour of earth are unvalued by JEHOVAH; for He looks upon the contrite and lowly heart, and there he sees that with which he is well pleased. There He beholds the imputed perfection of the SAVIOUR's righteousnessthere the meritorious efficacy of the SAVIOUR's blood. Purchased by that blood, the Church as a body, and every true believer as a member, is precious and lovely in the view of the Most HIGH.-Brethren, are we inhabitants of the "goodly tents" of Jacob? are we members of "the Church of the first-born?" are we separated from an ungodly world, as the Israelites were from all surrounding nations? Is the LORD our King, as He was theirs? and are we, as His liar people, "zealous of good works?" (Titus ii. 14.)— If so, then from the throne of His glory JEHOVAH looks down upon us with complacency; and all that Balaam's language expresses, is but the sentiment of our FATHER in Heaven, and of the pure and holy Spirits, who minister in His presence.

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But let us endeavour to enter into the beautiful imagery of the text. It is said of the goodly tents of Jacob, that" as the valleys are they spread forth, "as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign"aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedartrees beside the waters." Nothing in nature can be more descriptive of fertility, peace, prosperity, and

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