Upon the whole it is manifest that Balaam had the most just and true
notions of God and religion; as appears, partly from the original
story itself, and more plainly from the passage in Micah; where he
explains religion to consist in real virtue and real piety,
expressly distinguished from superstition, and in terms which most
strongly exclude dishonesty and falseness of heart. Yet you see his
behaviour: he seeks indulgences for plain wickedness, which not
being able to obtain he glosses over that same wickedness, dresses
it up in a new form, in order to make it pass off more easily with
himself. That is, he deliberately contrives to deceive and impose
upon himself in a matter which he knew to be of the utmost
importance.

To bring these observations home to ourselves: it is too evident
that many persons allow themselves in very unjustifiable courses who
yet make great pretences to religion; not to deceive the world, none
can be so weak as to think this will pass in our age; but from
principles, hopes, and fears, respecting God and a future state; and
go on thus with a sort of tranquillity and quiet of mind. This
cannot be upon a thorough consideration, and full resolution, that
the pleasures and advantages they propose are to be pursued at all
hazards, against reason, against the law of God, and though
everlasting destruction is to be the consequence. This would be
doing too great violence upon themselves. No, they are for making a
composition with the Almighty. These of His commands they will
obey; but as to others--why, they will make all the atonements in
their power; the ambitious, the covetous, the dissolute man, each in
a way which shall not contradict his respective pursuit.
Indulgences before, which was Balaam's first attempt, though he was
not so successful in it as to deceive himself, or atonements