NATURAL THEOLOGY 109 



immaterial essence; consequently animals must have 

 an immaterial nature or soul the same as man. 



This is illustrated in the communication between 

 Balaam and his ass. Balaam mounted his ass and 

 started to fight the Israelites, against God's com- 

 mand, but an angel was sent to warn him to go no 

 farther lest he would be slain. The angel appeared 

 standing in the road with uplifted sword, and was 

 seen by the ass before Balaam's eyes were opened. 

 The ass turned aside which so enraged Balaam that 

 he commenced to beat her with his staff. He did 

 not try to find the cause for the ass's fright. " And 

 the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said 

 unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou 

 hast smitten me these three times ? And Balaam 

 said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me ; I 

 would there were a sword in my hand, for now 

 would I kill thee." The poor ass tried to explain 

 her fright and said, "Am not I thine ass upon 

 which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto 

 this day ; was I ever wont to do so unto thee ? " 



While this conversation was going on, Balaam 

 looked up and saw the angel standing in the road, 

 and now it was his turn to apologize to the ass for 

 his hasty cruelty. 



