The new covenantThe nevv covenant

The like was the case of Balaam, he carried it exceeding fairly, I will not, if Balaac will give me his house full of gold, curse the people: I cannot do that which God hath not said to me, yet Balaam desired much to do it, he thought he would make trial, he would go as far as he could, God saw it, and found it out, and you see what judgement was given upon him, and this was presently discovered, he gave advice to Balaac to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, that is, by offering with the Moabites, and committing fornication with their women; and so, saith he, I shall be able to curse them, when they have committed sin once, then I may curse them to purpose. I say, there was the natural, the proper inclination of Balaam's heart, it was not a thing that he was drawn to; but when his heart was left to it self, to go which way it would, that way it went: it is not so with a man that is in the Covenant: for grace, it still prevails, and hath power over him, it is that which hath dominion and possession, it is that which is the Lord of the house, and whensoever he is lest simply to himself, that his heart works which way it would, certainly then he pleaseth God, he cannot, he doth not sin against him. I cannot stay to press this further, but rather come to make some use of it; but this remember, so long as a man doth not choose another Husband, so long the Covenant is not broken▪ though the failings be exceeding many.

The like was the case of Balaam, hee carried it exceeding fairely, I will not, if Balaac will giue me his house full of gold, curse the people: I cannot doe that which God hath not said to me, yet Balaam desired much to doe it, hee thought hee would make tryall, he would goe as farre as he could, God saw it, and found it out, and you see what iudgement was giuen vpon him, and this was presently discouered, he gaue aduice to Balaac to put a stumbling blocke before the children of Isra•l, that is, by offering with the Moabites, and committing fornication with their women; and so, saith he, I shall be able to curse them, when they haue committed sinne once, then I may curse them to purpose. I say, there was the naturall, the proper inclination of Balaams heart, it was not a thing that he was drawne to; but when his heart was left to it selfe, to goe which way it would, that way it went: it is not so with a man that is in the Couenant: for grace, it still preuailes, and hath power ouer him, it is that which hath dominion and possession, it is that which is the Lord of the house, and whensoeuer he is lest simply to himselfe, that his heart workes which way it would, certainely then he pleaseth God, he cannot, he doth not sin against him. I cannot stay to presse this further, but rather come to make some vse of it; but this remember, so long as a man doth not chuse another Husband, so long the Couenant is not broken though the failings be exceeding many.