1. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots ?"-No; the laws of Previdence are fixed. Although God has made men of various colors, and scattered them over the habitable globe, yet all are alike the objects of his care, and to them has he manifested through all generations the greatness of his power, the wisdom of his ways, and the tenderness of his love.

2. Many instances of his peculiar favor to the faithful and obedient, are recorded in the Bible for our encouragement. In the time of Jeremiah the prophet, when the king of Babylon had carried away many of the Jews into captivity, but had left a number at Jerusalem, to have charge of the city, and had placed Zedekiah as king over them, they rebelled against the Babylonians, and would not submit to their government, though they were permitted the free use of their own law. For this rebellious and obstinate disposition, they were frequently reproved of the Lord by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah; but they would not listen to his counsel, and hardening their hearts, even to cruelty, they cast the prophet into a deep pit, where there was much mire and filth, so that he was nigh unto death,

was

3. At this time there was in the king's house a pious and noted Ethiopian, (an African) whose' name Ebedmeleck. He was much affected with the cruelty of king Zedekiah and his princes towards Jeremiah, and he took the liberty of stating to the king the suf ferings of Jeremiah, and the probability that if he remained there much longer, he would die of hunger and suffocation. This statement so wrought on the feelings of the king, that he gave Ebedmeleck permission to go and raise him out of his dungeon. So taking with him a sufficient number of men, he let down cords to Jeremiah, and directing him to place them properly under his arms, they drew him out, and he remained in the court of the prison.

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4. While Jeremiah was in this latter place of confinement, the word of the Lord to him was: Speak to Ebedmeleck, saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, behold I will bring my words upon this city for evil and not for good, and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord."

5. Thus we see, that long before the declaration was made by Christ to his Apostles, the law by which mankind were governed, was as it still remains to be"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy”—and, "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

6. In a short time after this message was delivered by Jeremiah to Ebedmeleck, the king of Babylon again sent his army against Jerusalem, broke down its walls, made captives of many of the inhabitants, among whom were Zedekiah, with his sons and his princes. The sons and princes were put to death, but after putting out the eyes of Zedekiah, and binding him with chains, they carried him with many of the Jews to Ba-

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bylon, and put him in prison, where he remained until

his death.

7. But while the king of Babylon was thus incensed against Zedekiah for his rebellion, and chastising him for his obstinacy, he remembered Jeremiah, and gave his principal officer a particular charge respecting him, saying, "Take him and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee." So Jeremiah was taken out of the court of the prison, and committed to the care of Gedeliah, that he should carry him home, and take care of him and he dwelt among the people.

8. Thus was the promise of the Lord fulfilled. For in the day that he called him to be a prophet, and put his word in his mouth, he declared that though they should rise up and fight against him, they should not prevail-" For I am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee."

9. And although we have no further account of Ebedmeleck, yet we have every reason to believe that the promise to him was also fulfilled; as it was made by Him whose promises are sure, and whose word faileth not.

INSTANCES OF GENUINE BENEVOLENCE AND STRONG

ATTACHMENT.

The Good Master and his Faithful Slave.

[TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.]

1. WARNER MIFFLIN, for his candor, affability, and knowledge, was ranked among those who are an honor to their country and their age. He had received from his father thirty-seven negroes, old and young. The day that he had fixed upon for their emancipation being come, he called them one after another into his chamber, and this was the conversation that passed with one of them:

2.Well my friend James, how old art thou?" "I am twenty-nine and a half years old, master."

"Thou should'st have been free, as thy white brethren are, at twenty-one. Religion and humanity enjoin me this day to give thee thy liberty, and justice requires me to pay thee for eight years and a half service, at the rate of twenty-one pounds five shillings per annum, including in it thy food and raiment, making altogether a sum of ninety-five pounds twelve shillings and six pence owing to thee; but as thou art young and healthy, thou hadst better work for thy living: my intention is to give thee a bond for it, bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent.

3, Thou hast now no master but God and the laws-go into the next room, thou wilt find there thy late mistress and my nephew; they are engaged in writing thy manumission. May God bless thee, James! Be wise and industrious; in all thy trials, thou wilt find a friend in thy old master."

4. James, surprised at a scene so new and affecting, shed, many tears; astonishment, gratitude, and a variety of feelings, shock his frame. He shed a flood of tears, and could scarcely articulate these words: “Ah! my master, why do you give me my liberty? I have always had what I wanted: we have worked together in the fields, and I have worked as much for myself as for you. I have eaten of the same food, and been clothed like you-and we have gone together on foot to meeting we have the Sabbath to ourselves: we don't lack any thing. When we are sick, our good and tender mistress comes to our bed-side, always saying something consolatory to us.

5. "Ah! my dear master, when I am free, where shall I go? and when I am sick?”. "Thou shalt be as the whites; thou shalt hire with those who will give thee generous wages in a few years, thou shalt purchase a piece of land, marry a wife, wise and industrious as thyself, and rear up children, as I have reared thee, in the fear of the Lord and love of labor. After having lived free and happy, thou shalt die in peace. Thou must accept liberty, James, it is a great while since it was due to thee. Would to God, the Father

of all men, that the whites had ever thought of trading in thy African brethren: may He inspire all men with the desire of following our example. We, who regard Liberty as the first of our blessings, why should we refuse it to those who live amongst us ?"

6. "Ah! my master, you are so good is the reason; I wish not to leave you-I have never been a slave. You have never spoken to me but as you speak to white men ; I have lacked nothing, either in sickness or in health: I have never worked more than your neighbors, who have worked for themselves: I have been richer than many whites, to some of whom I have lent money : and my good and tender mistress never commands us to do any thing, but makes us do every thing by only saying, Please to do it.' How shall I leave you? Give me by the year what you will, in the name of a freeman or a slave, it is of little consequence to meshall never be happy but with you -I will never leave you."

7. "Well, James, I consent to what thou desirest : after thy manumission shall have passed through the necessary forms I will hire thee by the year, but take at least one week of relaxation, it is a great epoch of thy life, celebrate it with joy, and rest by doing whatsover thou wilt."

8. "No master! it is seed time-I will take my pleasure another time, one day only shall be a holiday in my family-then since you will have it so, I will accept my liberty, and my first action as a free man, is to take your hand, my master! press it between mine and lay it on my heart, where the attachment and gratitude of James will not cease, until that ceases to beat; and until that moment, be assured, that no laborer in the county of Kent, will be more industrious than he who henceforth shall be called FAITHFUL JAMES."

*This account, with some additional particulars, may be found in the "Recueil Choisi." under the head of "Le Genereux Quaker."