43. Thou hast caused me, my brother, not to
fear death, and I only would that my life might die with thine!
This Balaam wished for as the greatest good for himself, when, inspired
by the spirit of prophecy, he said: “Let my soul die in the
souls of the righteous, and let my seed be like the seed of
them.” Num. xxiii. 10 [LXX.]. And in
truth he wished this according to the spirit of prophecy, for as he saw
the rising of Christ, so also he saw His triumph, he saw His death, but
saw also in Him the everlasting resurrection of men, and therefore
feared not to die as he was to rise again. Let not then my soul
die in sin, nor admit sin into itself, but let it die in the soul of
the righteous, that it may receive his righteousness. Then, too,
he who dies in Christ is made a partaker of His grace in the
Font.