, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of
him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

In a few days the Negro was baptized, and not long after went on a voyage
with his master.

Since that time I have not been able to hear any tidings of him. Whether
he yet wanders as a pilgrim in this lower world, or whether he has joined
the heavenly choir in the song of "redeeming love" in glory, I know not.
This I do know, he was a monument to the Lord's praise. He bore the
impression of the Saviour's image on his heart, and exhibited the marks
of divine grace in his life and conversation, with singular simplicity
and unfeigned sincerity.

Give to God the glory.

THE YOUNG COTTAGER.

PART I.

When a serious Christian turns his attention to the barren state of the
wilderness through which he is travelling, frequently must he heave a
sigh for the sins and sorrows of his fellow-mortals. The renewed heart
thirsts with holy desire that the Paradise which was lost through Adam
may be fully regained in Christ. But the overflowings of sin within and
without, the contempt of sacred institutions, the carelessness of soul,
the pride of unbelief, the eagerness of sensual appetite, the ambition
for worldly greatness, and the deep-rooted enmity of the carnal heart
against God: these things are as "the fiery serpents, and scorpions, and
drought," which distress his soul, as he journeys through "that great and
terrible wilderness."

Sometimes, like a solitary pilgrim, he weeps in secret places, and rivers
of water run down his eyes, because men keep not the law of God.

Occasionally he meets with a few fellow-travellers whose spirit is
congenial with his own, and with whom he can take "sweet counsel
together." They comfort and strengthen each other by the way. Each can
relate something of the mercies of his God, and how kindly they have been
dealt with, as they travelled onwards. The dreariness of the path is
thus beguiled, and now and then, for a while, happy experiences of the
divine consolation cheer their souls; "the wilderness and the solitary
place are glad for them; the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose."

But even at the very time when the Christian is taught to feel the peace
of God which passeth all understanding, to trust that he is personally
interested in the blessings of salvation, and to believe that God will
promote his own glory by glorifying the penitent sinner; yet