Numbers 23

Objection. But is not God said to repent? — there seems to be a change in his decree (Jonah 3:10): "The Lord repented of the evil that he said he would do to them." Response. Repentance is attributed to God figuratively and improperly (Numbers 23:19): "He is not man that he shou…

But if God be our God, he will not for every failing destroy us: He bears with his spouse, as with the weaker vessel: God may chastise (Psalm 89:32). He may use the rod and the pruning knife, but not the bloody axe (Numbers 23:21). He has not seen iniquity in Jacob: He will not…

They surely must needs go wrong who slight their guide; such as lay the reins upon the neck of their lusts, and never use the curbing bit of Scripture to check them, are carried to hell and never stop. 5. It condemns the abusers of Scripture: 1. who do muddy and poison this pure…

But may not a hypocrite have good desires? Numbers 23:10: Let me die the death of the righteous. Therefore I say, unfeigned desires evidence the kingdom of God within a man.

3. A sinner weeps but goes on in sin; his sins are not drowned in his tears. 5. A man may have good desires yet miss of the kingdom (Numbers 23:10). O that I might die the death of the righteous.

But some may think that this reason is not substantial, for men may seek for heaven that never had true saving faith. As, Balaam desired that his end might be like the end of the righteous, Numbers 23:10: wherewith no doubt he desired the state of the righteous after this life.…

This is found true by experience. For when Balaam the wizard should have cursed the people of Israel, and had assayed to do it many ways, but could not; at length he said, there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor soothsaying against Israel (Numbers 23:23). This is a notable comfor…

Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked. Such as calumniate the saints, would be glad to die their death (Numbers 23:10). Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.

We dream of heaven, when there is no mortification, no exercising ourselves to godliness. A great many say as Balaam did, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his (Numbers 23:10), but they care not for living the life of the righteous. If they can b…

But man is sooner convinced, than converted, than drawn off from worldly vanities, that he may seek after this happiness, and usually we have a quicker ear for offers of happiness, than precepts of duty and obedience. Balaam (Numbers 23:10): Oh that I could die the death of the…

Otherwise the wicked and profane may well discourse in words of God's mercy, and of life eternal, and yet in the meantime have no feeling at all of these things in their heart. As did that false Prophet Balaam, who knew well enough that that which he spoke was true; and yet for…

We may well call this man then, one that knows wisely how to forecast matters, and who has a deep insight into dark and obscure things, which are necessary; not by divinations or superstitious arts, but with a quick and prompt judgment, and with great dexterity of wit. Also in r…

So of Zeal, as in Jehu, 2 Kings 10:16, and in Paul before his Conversion, Galatians 1:14, Philippians 3:6, and the unbelieving Jews, Acts 22:3, Romans 10:2. So graceless Persons may have earnest religious Desires, which may be like Balaam's Desires, which he expresses under an e…

Numbers 23:23. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what has God wrought? When I read you, my dear hearers, these words; when I consider what occasion, and by whom they were originally spoken, I cannot help thinking of that triumphant expression of the…

When Satan cannot prevail against us by one means, he does not despair of prevailing by another; He gives not his cause over for lost, because he cannot carry it at first, he will try, and try again. As it was with Balak, Numbers 23, when he sent for Balaam to curse the people,…

(Matthew 25:8) Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. With what a rapture was Balaam transported, when he said, Let me die the death of the righteous, and my last end be like his (Numbers 23:10)? Does the work of faith in some believers bear upon its top branches, the…

We read, that many shall say to Christ in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out devils, etc. and yet themselves at last cast out as a prey to devils. How divinely and rhetorically did a Balaam speak and prophesy (Numbers 23). What r…

As it is reported of Bishop Cranmer, they used to say of him, If they would have Bishop Cranmer their friend, let them do him some ill turn: Do you not think how you may be even with them that have done you an ill turn, but rather go home, and all the way you are going, be musin…

Laban had power to do hurt, but no heart. When Balak called upon Balaam to curse Israel, God so dispirited Balaam that he could not discharge his thunderbolt, Numbers 23:8. How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?

They scoff at it with their tongues, but have a fear of it in their consciences: they revile at it while they live, but what mind are they of when they come to die? Then all speak well of a holy life, and the strictest obedience to the laws of God, (Numbers 23:10) Let me die the…

More distinctly: 1. Wicked men may desire their own happiness, though not upon God's terms (Numbers 23:10): "O that I might die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." At oportnit sic vixisse. John 6:34: "Evermore give us of this bread of life."

5. And lastly, they fully declare against sin as sinful, in that they desire to die the death of the righteous. Balaam, and others, that lived not the life of the righteous, but accounted their life madness, yet reckon their end happy, and therefore would that their own might be…

Yes, though the wicked count good and holy men's lives to be folly and madness, yet when they come to die, they would be glad with all their hearts, that their souls might be in as good a condition as theirs after death. Balaam that wicked wretch, who loved the wages of, and liv…

So did Balaam, when he went to curse the people of God, he had a great strife within himself: How shall I curse (says he) where God has not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord has not defied (Numbers 23:8)? And did not Pilate strive against his sin, when he said to the Je…

As we know it in the country from where we came, some wily-headed persons get possession of a living, keep the owner in suit and restless wrangling many years together, against the evidence of their own conscience and reason, because so long they can keep the living, and reap th…

You shall not worship the Lord your God as the heathen idolaters — let the truth have his full scope now, therefore not as [reconstructed: they do]; [reconstructed: but] draw the curtain a little [reconstructed: toward] that way: Fashion not yourselves according to the world (Ro…

This is as truly ours to justify as it is Christ's to bestow. By virtue of this righteousness God looks upon us as if we had never sinned (Numbers 23:21). This is a perfect righteousness (Colossians 2:10): You are complete in him.

I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. We often grieve the Spirit, abuse kindness; God will pass by much in his children (Numbers 23:21). He has not seen iniquity in Jacob; his love does not make him blind; he sees sin in his people, but not with an eye…

1. Circumcision, and the ceremonies; and the priesthood (Exodus 40:15), (Leviticus 16:29) the fast in the seventh month, shall be a statute, for ever. (Leviticus 6:18) All the [reconstructed: males] of the sons of Aaron shall eat the remainder of the meat-offering, it shall be a…

—numquam stygias fertur ad umbras inclyta virtus. 6 Godliness is so excellent, that the worst men would have it when they are going hence; though at present godliness be despised, and under a cloud, yet at death all would be godly: A Philosopher asking a young man, whether he wo…

Hypocrites are the chief guests the Devil expects, and he will make them as welcome, as fire and brimstone can make them. 8. If the heart be sincere, God will wink at many failings, Numbers 23. 21. He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. God's love does not make him blind, he can see…

And this reason is mentioned (1 Timothy 1:13-14, 16): the grace of God was exceeding abundant toward me; it had been too little to have said, the grace of God was enough for me, but the grace of God was abundant above my wickedness; and if that were too narrow a word, it was exc…