man, who had taught his slaves to read, but who had not, however, conversed with this negro upon the state of his soul. I asked him, likewise, how he got comfort under all this trial? “O Massah (said he) it was Christ gave me comfort by his dear blood! He bade me come unto him, and he would give me rest, for I was very weary, and heavy laden." And here he went through a line of the most precious texts in the bible, shewing, by his artless comment upon them, as he went along, what great things God had done, in the course of some years, for his soul. Being rather more acquainted with doctrinal truths, and the analogy of the bible, than he had been, or, in his situation could easily be, I had a mind to try, how far a simple, untutored experience, graciously given, without the usual means, could carry a man from some speculative errors; and, I therefore asked him several questions, about the merit of works, the justification of a sinner, the power of grace, and the like; I own I was as much astonished at, as I admired the sweet spirit, and simplicity of his answers, with the heavenly wisdom that God had put into the mind of this negro. His discourse, flowing merely from the richness of grace, with a tenderness, and expression, far beyond the reach of art, perfectly charmed me. On the other hand, my entering into all his

feelings, together, with an account to him, which he had never heard before, that thus, and thus, the Lord in his mercy dealt with all his children, and had dealt with me, drew streams of joyful tears, down his black face, that we looked upon each other, and talked with that inexpressible glow of christian affection, that made me more than ever believe, what I have often too thoughtlessly professed to believe, the communion of saints. I shall never forget how the poor excellent creature seemed to hang upon my lips, and to eat my very words, when I enlarged upon the love of Christ to poor sinners, the free bounty and tender mercy of God, the frequent, and delightful sense he gives of his presence, the faith he bestows in his promises, the victories this faith is enabled to get over trials, and temptations, the joy, and peace in believing the hope in life and death, and the glorious expectation of immortality. To have taken off his eager, delighted, animated air and manner, would have been a master-piece for a Reynolds. He had never heard such discourse, nor found the opportunity of hearing it before. He seemed like a man who had been thrown into a new world, and, at length, had found company. Though my conversation lasted at least, two or three hours, I scarce ever enjoyed the happy swiftness of time so sweetly in all my life.

We

knew not how to part. He would accompany me as far as he might: and I felt, on my side, such a delight, in the artless, savoury, solid, unaffected experience, of this dear soul, that I could have been glad to see him oftener then, or to see his like at any time now: but my situation rendered it impossible. I, therefore, took an affectionate adieu, with an ardour equal to the warmest, and the most ancient friendship, telling him, that neither the colour of his body, nor, the condition of his present life, could prevent him from being my dear brother, in our dear Saviour; and, that though we must part now, never to see each other again, any more, in this world; I had no doubt of our having another joyful meeting in our father's home, where we should live together, and love one another throughout a long, and happy eternity.

"Amen, Amen, my dear Massah, God bless you, and poor me too, for ever, and ever.

"

Published by that valuable author, A. Searle, Esq. the gentleman who had the interesting conversation with this highly favoured Negro.

REFLECTIONS.

"If I (says Mr. Searle) had been an angel from heaven, he could not have received me with more evident delight than he did; nor could I have considered him with a more sympathetic regard, if he had been a long known christian, of the good old sort, grown up into my affections, in the course of many years.

Happy world, if all were christians! Or, at least, happy christians, if they shewed more of this brotherly love to each other in the world! None can deny that so it ought to be. Oh! that every one who names the name of Christ, and believes himself to be a member of his undivided body, would pray for faith and love, to put the whole into being! Blessed Lord, fountain of life, and love, send forth the spirit of thy son into my heart, and into the hearts of all my brethren; that, waving all mean and selfish distinctions, we may first love thee above all things, and then each other for thy sake, with a pure heart, fervently. Subdue animosities, and all the separating corruptions of the flesh, and let us consider ourselves as brethren, fellow heirs of the grace of life, persons who shall pass an eternity together; as parts. of

thy body, thy flesh, and thy bones. Even so, let it be, for thy glory, and our present and eternal consolation, through thy grace! Amen."

THE BRITISH SEAMAN.

The Reverend J. Pratt, a highly respectable clergyman of the Establishment, in the second volume of his Gleanings, relates an affecting anecdote of a sailor on board the Venerable, the ship in which Admiral Duncan commanded the fleet, in the action against the Dutch, off Camperdown. He received the account from Dr. Duncan, Lord Duncan's chaplain and relative, who, in the action, assisted the surgeon and his mate, in binding up the wounds, and amputating the limbs of the unfortunate sufferers. "A mariner (says the Doctor) of the name of Covey, was brought down to the surgery, deprived of both his legs, and it was necessary, some hours after, to amputate still higher. "I suppose (said Covey, with an oath) those scissars will finish the business of the ball, master

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