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BALAAMS ASS SPEAKS.
Balaam the False Prophet blesseth the People of GOD against his Will, not∣withstanding that King Balak had sent for him to curse them. His Ass reproves him for beating her, because she stopt at the sight of an Angel, which Balaam perceived not.
AFTER so many Afflictions and Dif∣ficulties which Moses had been tryed with, in his Leading of the People; for a last proof of his Constancy, he was a little be∣fore his death to be exercised with Tryals, caused by the Artifices of a false Prophet.
The Israelites being encamp'd near to the borders of Moab, Balak their King terrifyed at their approach, sends for Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam in the Night time asks Counsel of GOD, what he should do; who strictly forbad him to undertake any such thing, forasmuch as he himself had blessed them: whereupon Balaam dismisses the Prin∣ces, Balak had sent to fetch him, with this Answer. But this Prince being resolved not to be put off so, sends other more honoura∣ble Persons to Balaam, and with richer Pre∣sents.
The covetousness of this false Prophet be∣ing awakened at the sight of these Presents, instead of firmly acquiescing in the first an∣swer GOD had given him, demanded again of GOD, whether he should go along with them, as if the Gold of these second Am∣bassadors could have the same power upon GOD, as it had on his Covetous Heart. So GOD leaving him to his desires, bad him go along with them. And as he was on the way, the Angel of the Lord met him and oppos'd him; yet Balaam did not see him; but the Ass on which he rode, saw the Angel, and stopping, fell down under him; and as Ba∣laam in a rage smote the Ass, GOD open∣ing her Mouth, she complain'd of his unjust Cruelty.
At the same time also the LORD open∣ed Balaams Eyes, and he saw the Angel standing in the way, and as he threatned to kill him, Balaam humbled himself before the Angel of the LORD; and told him, that if his Journey were displeasing to him, he was ready to return back again. But the Angel gave him leave to continue his Jour∣ney, only charged him to speak nothing, but what he received from GOD. And accordingly he did; for notwithstanding all the Perswasions and Promises of Balak to make him curse Israel, GOD made him to bless them; which extreamly provoked that King.
But Balaam being afraid of losing the Re∣wards he expected from Balak, made him endeavour by his Counsel, to destroy and fru∣strate the blessings he had pronounced to that People: For casting off his disguise of a true Prophet, he (like a wicked wretch) advised Balak to tempt the Children of Israel with the Moabitish Women, that being inveigled by them, and worshiping their Idols, GOD might in his Wrath deliver them into the hands of their Enemies.
This Advice of his had a most fatal suc∣cess; for these Idolatrous Women, by their Allurements, soon gain'd this easie People, to defile their Bodies and Souls with them.
Thus one false Prophet, who pretended to be a Man of God, was like (by his Artifices and Covetousness) to have been the cause of the ruin and destruction of all Gods People, if a true Minister of the Lord had not opposed it with an holy and highly commendable Zeal: For Phineas, the Grandson of Aaron, seeing a Jew committing lewdness with a Moabitish Woman, thrust them both through with his Sword, by which means the Plague was stayed, which the Wrath of God had kindled amongst them, whereof 24000 died.
The Jews then (as saith S. Ambrose) were more miraculously delivered by one true Priest, than they had before been corrupted by one False Prophet; and the Zeal and Piety of the one was of greater force, than the Avarice or Artifices of the other.
We find here, that the People of God are happy, when they have Persons amongst them, who by a wise zeal oppose the designs of those that would corrupt them. There will be always Balaams in the Church, that is, false Pro∣phets, who seek their own Interests, and not those of Jesus Christ. Wherefore it is greatly to be wish'd for, that the Church may not want such as Phineas, who were sensible of the least Evil that threatens it, and who aim at nothing but the Glory of God, and the Salva∣tion of his People.