Balaam’s Wish.

I

  How bless’d the righteous are
  When they resign their breath!
No wonder Balaam wish’d to share
  In such a happy death.

II

  “Oh! let me die,” said he,
  “The death the righteous do⁠—
When life is ended, let me be
  Found with the faithful few.”

III

  The force of truth, how great!
  When enemies confess,
None but the righteous, whom they hate,
  A solid hope possess.

IV

  But Balaam’s wish was vain,
  His heart was insincere;
He thirsted for unrighteous gain.
  And sought a portion here.

V

  He seem’d the Lord to know,
  And to offend him loath;
But Mammon proved his overthrow,
  For none can serve them both.

VI

  May you, my friends, and I,
  Warning from hence receive,
If like the righteous we would die,
  To choose the life they live.