while such as Balaam write their own mittimus for everlasting misery, as in those sou l-piercing words, when speaking of Christ, "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh;" (Num. xxiv. 17.) the hope and expectation of the poorest and humblest child of God is expressed in those sweet words, "As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness." (Ps. xvii. 15.)

There is one thing more I wish to drop a word of observation upon, respecting the history of Balaam. The reader will, probably, anticipate the circumstance to which I refer; namely, the conversation which Balaam held with his ass. I do not hestitate to say, that I wholly agree with St. Austin, and accept the fact simply as it is related, and believe it to have been a miracle of the Lord's. I form my opinion on the authority of the Holy Ghost, who, by his servant the apostle Peter, expressly saith, that “the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet." (2 Pet. ii. 16.) The occasion was as extraordinary and interesting, as the event of the animal being so commissioned to reprove; and for such an occasion, as in numberless other instances in life, the ordinary appointments in the Lord's providences may be well supposed to be superseded. The only, or at least, the most striking circumstance in the whole relation is, the loss of the wonderful event on Balaam's mind, that he should have been so addressed, and give such an answer, and yet persist in his iniquitous journey. But even here again, similar effects on the minds of sinners, in every age, are continually produced, and the end is the same. What conviction was frequently wrought upon the minds of the Jews, when beholding the miracles of Christ! But yet, what

lasting effect did that conviction ultimately produce! He who well knew the human heart, void of sovereign grace, hath left it upon record as an unerring conclusion, that where the word of God is despised and set at nought, no higher evidences, even of miracles, will succeed: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded, though one should rise from the dead." (Luke xvi. 31.)

BALADAN. A king of Babylon. (2 Kings xx. 12.) The name seems to be a compound of Baal and Adom, both meaning lord.

BALAK. The Prince of Moab and Midian: the son of Zippor. We have his history, Num. xxii. and following chapters. His name signifies, wasting, from Lakak, to lick up, and the prefix Beth, with. See Balaam.

BAMAH. We meet with this name but once, namely in Ezek. xx. 29. It means an high place. Bamoth is the plural of it, and we meet with this several times, Num. xxi. 19, 20. Bamoth Baal, a city beyond Jordan. (Josh. xiii. 17.)

BANI. There are several of this name in Scripture, (See 2 Sam. xxiii. 36. 1 Chron. vi. 46. Ezra ii. 10.) Some render the word, from Ban, son. Hence, Rachel named her son, Benoni, in her dying moments, while Jacob called him Benjamin. The mother's name made him Ben, the son, oni, of my sorrow. The father's Ben, the son, jamin, the right hand, or the hand of strength.

BANNER. In a figurative language, Christ is said to be an ensign, or standard, to his people. (Isa. xi. 10, 12.) Hence, the Psalmist, in allusion to Christ, "Thou hast given a banner to them that feared thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” (Ps. lx. 4.) And when Moses built an altar, after the victory obtained over Amalek, he called the name

of it JEHOVAH Nissi; that is, the Lord is my banner. And what Lord but Christ? Were not both the altar and the banner tokens of the Lord Jesus Christ? (Exod. xvii. 15.) Hence, the church speaks, in allusion to Christ, "In the name of our God, we set up our banners." (Ps. xx. 5.) And hence also, the church, when beheld in her warlike appearance, fighting in the strength of her Lord, is said to be, "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." (Song vi. 4. 10.) It is very blessed to eye Christ in this most glorious character, as JEHOVAH'S banner to his people, for their waging war with sin, death, and hell. He is lifted up from everlasting, in the glories of his person, as the church's Husband from all eternity. Hence, the Standard-bearer among ten thousand, under whose shadow all his redeemed are safe, and made more than conquerors through Him that loveth them. Reader! believer! friend! are we under this almighty Banner? Hath the Lord Jesus brought us to his banqueting house, and is his banner over us of love? Oh, then, let us sit down under his shadow, for, surely, all his fruit is sweet to our taste! Sure banner of peace with God, and good will towards men! See Jehovah Nissi. BAPTISM. One of the ordinances which the Lord Jesus hath appointed in his church. An outward token, or sign, of an inward and spiritual grace. A dedication to the glorious, holy, undivided Three in One, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; in whose joint name baptism is performed, and from whose united blessings in Christ, it can alone be rendered effectual. (Matt. xxviii. 19.) Beside this ordinance, which Christ hath appointed as the introduction to his church, we are taught to be always on the watch, in prayer and supplication, for the continual baptisms of the Holy Ghost. Concerning the per

sonal baptisms of the Lord Jesus Christ, we hear Jesus speaking of them during his ministry. (See Luke xii. 50.) Hence, to the sons of Zebedee, the Lord said, "Can ye drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" And Jesus added, "Ye shall drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptised." (Mark x. 38, 39.)

Some have thought, that these expressions are figurative of sufferings. But there doth not seem sufficient authority in the word of God to prove this. And, indeed, the subject is too much obscured by those expressions, to determine that sufferings were the baptisms to which the Lord had respect. Besides, had sufferings been meant by Christ, could he mean that the sons of Zebedee were to sustain agonies like himself in the garden and on the cross? This were impossible.

Others, by baptism, have taken the expression of John the Baptist literally, where he saith, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Matt. iii. 11.) Others, with more probability of truth, have considered the baptisms of the Holy Ghost, and with fire, to mean his manifold gifts and graces. The Old Testament spake of "the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning." (Isa. iv. 4.) And the New Testament gives the record of the first descent of the Holy Ghost, after Christ's return to glory, in the shape of cloven tongues, like as of fire, which sat upon each of them. (Acts ii. 4.) It were devoutly to be prayed for, and sought for by faith, that all true believers in Christ were earnest for the continual influences of the Holy Ghost, as the

only real and sure testimony of being baptized unto Christ, in having put on Christ. For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Gal. iii. 27. Rom. viii. 9.).

BAPTIST. John the Baptist, the herald and forerunner of our Lord, predicted by the prophets. (See Isa. xl. 1-8. Mal. iii. 1.) I must refer to the Gospels for the history of the Baptist. It would far go beyond the limits of this work, to enter upon the account of John's life. One feature in his history and character I would only beg to make an observation upon, and that is, indeed, in my view, a very important one; namely, on his testimony to the person and glory of Christ. The reader will recollect, that concerning John the Baptist, Jesus himself declared, that “among them that were born of women, there had never arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist." (Matt. xi. 11.) Now attend to what this greatest born of women saith, concerning his almighty Master: "The Jews sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was; and he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they said, Who art thou? And he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord." (John i. 19-23. yea, to 31.) And what is a voice? Merely a sound, and no more. It is not so much as a person, but only ministers to a certain purpose, for which it is designed, and then dies away in the air, and is heard no more. Such, in comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ, was this greatest of all prophets, born among women. What a blessed testimony to the GODHEAD and glory of Jesus! Oh! that Socinians and Deists would think of it!

BARABBAS. A well known name, rendered memorable from being preferred by the Jews to the Lord

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