A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

4. We have many times a seeming Awe upon the Conscience, and so are urged to do God's Will, yet the Heart is averse from God all the while; therefore they strive to bring God's Will and theirs together, to compromise the Difference. A notable Instance of this you have in Balaam: He had a Message sent to him, and a great Bribe; now he had a carnal Heart, which ran out upon the Wages of Unrighteousness, and therefore tho he knew the People of Israel were blessed of the Lord, yet first he will go to God. Numb. 22. 8. Lodge here this Night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak into me. He is very tender, he durst not go with them, unless the Lord say, Go. But God denies him; v. 12. Thou shalt not go with them. What then? The Lord refuseth to give him leave. Then Balak sends more honourable Messengers, and propounds Rewards again; then his carnal Will is for God; v. 18. Balaam answered, If Balak would give me his House full of Silver and Gold, I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. Was not this spoken with an honest Mind, think you? This was the Dictate of ⟨p. 274⟩his Conscience; not for a House-full of Gold durst he go against God the Lord: Yet you shall find 'twas a sore Temptation to him, for he goes again to God, v. 19. Tarry here this Night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. Then saith God, Go, when he saw his Heart was set for the Wages of Unrighteousness. There was a Reluctancy in his Conscience, he durst not go, therefore he would fain bring the Will of God to his Will. In many Cases we are thus divided, between our own Affections, and God's Will; between our Interests, and the Will of God.

It is a Case often falls out, when there is a Quarrel between Conviction and Corruption. When Light is active and strong in Conscience, Men dare not go against the apparent Will of God, yet their Hearts hang another way. We have one carnal Affection or other, and then all our Business is, to bring God's Will and ours together; and how to disguise and palliate the Matter, that with greatest leave to Conscience we may seem to contradict the Will of God.