Page:Whole works of joseph butler.djvu/101

70 was this:—he wanted to do what he knew to be very wicked, and contrary to the express command of God; he had inward checks and restraints, which he could not entirely get over; he therefore casts about for ways to reconcile this wickedness with his duty. How great a paradox soever this may appear, as it is indeed a contradiction in terms, it is the very account which the Scripture gives us of him.

But there is a more surprising piece of iniquity yet behind. Not daring, in his religious character, as a prophet, to assist the king of Moab, he considers whether there might not be found some other means of assisting him against that very people, whom he himself, by the fear of God, was restrained from cursing in words. One would not think it possible that the weakness, even of religious self-deceit, in its utmost excess, could have so poor a distinction, so fond an evasion, to serve itself of. But so it was: and he could think of no other method than to betray the children of Israel to provoke His wrath, who was their only strength and defence. The temptation which he pitched upon was that concerning which Solomon afterwards observed, that it had "cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men had been slain by it;" and of which he himself was a sad example, when "his wives turned away his heart after other gods." This succeeded: the people sin against God; and thus the prophet's counsel brought on that destruction, which he could by no means be prevailed upon to assist with the religious ceremony of execration, which the king of Moab thought would itself have effected it. Their crime and punishment are related in Deuteronomy, chap, iv., and Numbers, chap. xxv. And, from the relation repeated in Numbers, chap, xxxi., it appears that Balaam was the contriver of the whole matter. It is also ascribed to him in the Eevelation, chap, ii., where he is said to have "taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel."