How Balaam's experiment ended--his death. He tried to make the 'best of
both worlds,' so he ran with the hare and hunted with the hounds, and
this was how it ended, as it always does, as it always will. How death
ends all the illusions, sternly breaks down all the compromises,
reveals all the absurdities!
Men are one thing or the other. Learn, then, the lesson that no gifts,
no talents, no convictions, no aspirations will avail.
Let this sad figure which looks out upon us with grey streaming hair
and uplifted hands from beside the altar on Pisgah speak to us.
How near the haven it is possible to be cast away! Like Bunyan's way to
hell from near the gate of the celestial city.
Balaam said, 'Let me die the death of the righteous!' and his death was
thus:--'Balaam they slew with the sword,' and his epitaph is 'Balaam
the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,' got them, and
perished!