ditate on the
value which Infinite Mercy has attached to his _soul_.

Not many days after my first interview with my Negro disciple, I went
from home with the design of visiting and conversing with him again at
his master's house, which was situated in a part of the parish nearly
four miles distant from my own. The road which I took lay over a lofty
down, which commands a prospect of scenery seldom exceeded in beauty and
magnificence. It gave birth to silent but instructive contemplation.

The down itself was covered with sheep, grazing on its wholesome and
plentiful pasture. Here and there a shepherd's boy kept his appointed
station, and watched over the flock committed to his care. I viewed it
as an emblem of my own situation and employment. Adjoining the hill lay
an extensive parish, wherein many souls were given me to watch over, and
render an account of, at the day of the great Shepherd's appearing. The
pastoral scene before me seemed to be a living parable, illustrative of
my own spiritual charge. I felt a prayerful wish, that the good
Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep, might enable me to be faithful
to my trust.

It occurred to me, about the same time, that my young African friend was
a sheep of another more distant fold, which Christ will yet bring to hear
his voice. For there shall be one fold and one Shepherd, and all nations
shall be brought to acknowledge that He alone "restoreth our souls, and
leadeth us in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." On the
left hand of the hill, as I advanced eastward, and immediately under its
declivity, extended a beautiful tract of land intersected by a large arm
of the sea, which (as the tide was fast flowing in) formed a broad lake
or haven of three miles in length. Woods, villages, cottages, and
churches, surrounded it in most pleasing variety of prospect. Beyond
this lay a large fleet of ships of war, and not far from it another of
merchantmen, both safe at anchor, and covering a tract of the sea of
several miles in extent. Beyond this, again, I saw the fortifications,
dockyards, and extensive public edifices of a large seaport town. The
sun shone upon the windows of the buildings and the flags of the ships
with great brightness, and added much to the splendour of the view.

I thought of the concerns of empires and plans of statesmen, the fate of
nations and the horrors of war. Happy will be that day when He shall
make wars to cease unt