there be plainer indications of a divine guidance than these facilities of access, opened so unexpectedly, and always at the right time, afford to every thinking mindindications so plain and marked that the pillar of cloud and fire which led the chosen people in ancient days are hardly less miraculous? True, there is not the visible putting forth of the Almighty arm which so frequently signalises the inspired records, but is it not as palpable and as decided? Miracles indeed! To one who thinks aright of the course of man's history, the interference with the course of nature, as indicated by the parting of the Red Sea waves and the daily supply of manna, are but (to speak it with reverence) mere clumsy contrivances, compared with the higher and finer manifestation of power and wisdom which consists in so arranging the order of nature that its general rules shall all be made to work for the good of individuals, and the immensely complicated concerns of individuals are cared for with the utmost precision and minuteness by the same instrumentality that guides and regulates the general welfare of the whole. scribed duty, so that it may enter into the language of the Knowest thou yesterday, its care and sorrow? THE MAN OUT OF THE MOON. Came down at noon.' PERHAPS these lines occurred to some of the individuals who witnessed the disappearance of the man from the moon one balmy summer evening. There must have been at least one astronomer, poet, lunatic, and pair of lovers; and how many more may not easily be ascer tained. But the moonshine still came down so gently, and the space vacated by that ancient man was filled with such calm brightness, that little was said and no commotion caused by his withdrawal from that place where he had been an admired fixture. Had he dropped down among any of the evening watchers, doubtless there would have been a great excitement-especially among children and nurses. with whom this man had been an object of greater interest_than any other class. And, as every body was once a boy or girl, there might have been a revival of affection, which would have manifested itself in way ing of handkerchiefs, loud huzzas, and clapping of hands, perhaps in ringing of bells, and firing of cannon; and who knows what fine dinners might have been given him, and concerts also, in which a few particular nursery rhymes might have been set to music by Vieux Temps, or Ole Buil, and the stranger almost paralysed by the excess of joyous sensibility. But those who knew that he was gone could not of course tell whether he had started upon a journey to the Sun, or to Venus, or to Herschel, or to some other place among the stars; and perhaps a few of them dreamed that he had come on a pilgrimage of love to the moon's great satellite, earth. But, upon the same principle that little boats should keep near the shore,' the inexperienced traveller had wisely resolved that his first voyage should terminate at the first landing-place. Whether those were moonstruck who first saw him It is to be observed, too, that, whether in prosperity or in adversity, no man has any assurance that his position will be the same for any length of time. This is so obvious and so trite, that the ceaseless mutations of fortune have formed the theme of poets and moralists in all ages, and many are the complaints that have been issued by both of the instability of human affairs. We are not about to dispute the correctness of these complaints; but at the same time it is well to remark that, viewed in another light, this arrangement of Providence is another instance of the principle we are endeavouring to illustrate. For what is it but this, that God reserves man's affairs in his own hands, and deals out to him the incidents of his life only in the most minute particles at a time? The blessings that make man's life worth living for may be regarded as laid up in a vast treasury or storehouse, of which the keeper is God himself, and to him must man come for each and all of them. But it is worth notice that he can carry away no more at each application than will serve him for the present time. Man may come as often as he will-the oftener the more welcome-and he is never denied a supply; but yet, even in the most profuse distribution of these favours, there is this presiding economy observed, that nothing is given to him beyond that which is needful for the present demand. In this respect every man's life resembles the condition of the Israelites, when their supplies of fool lasted only for a day, and every returning morning required a renewed supply. It is not intended to insinuate here that men are not sometimes favoured with blessings more than they need for the present, or that opportunities never occur when a man may say, like him of old, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years.' Such an idea is of course contradicted at once by every man's experience; but, on the other hand, it will not be denied that such provision often proves illusory The deer turned upon him their large lustrous eyes, and disappears, so that, even while hoarded in earthly store- and darted away to their leafy coverts; the rooks slowly houses, the owner of them has in reality no certain posses-wheeled around above his head, and sailed upon the breezes Riches often make to themselves wings and fly away,' or health fails, and with it the power of enjoying them; or, lastly, that dread event comes, which happened in the parable already referred to-the soul is required' -and all earthly possessions are left behind. sion. This latter consideration reminds us that, uncertain as earthly possessions are held, the tenure of life is no surer. The possession of both, indeed, depend upon precisely the same security. We cannot call our blessings our own beyond the instant we are enjoying them; we have no hold upon life beyond the moment we retain it. Life and the means of living are dispensed together in the minutest particles, as if to impress us at once with a sense of our own dependence, and of the never-ceasing fulness, as well as the never-wearying care, of Him on whom we depend. In realising this exquisite arrangement, at once bountiful to prodigality in the amount, while economical to niggardliness in the duration, the heart is left calm and humble in prosperity, brave and hoping in adversity, and in both freed from a load of cares with regard to its worldly interests, while it calmly and resolutely pursues its pre 'Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Where a fair lady, throned by the west,' held state upon a little island-whether they were moonstruck or not, matters little; but certainly no skylark ever fluttered into nest more unregarded, no eagle ever descended into its nest more untroubled, no snowflake ever fell into its deep dingle more unnoticed, and no leaflet ever nestled under its shadowing rock more quietly, than the man from the moon came down, when he alighted under the broad shadow of a noble elm, in a ducal park. of their leafy homes; and the watch-dog met him at the portal with a fawn of affection. At the porter's lodge had gathered some of the juvenile nobility, and with the utmost courtesy they received unquestioned the remarkable stranger, and invited him to their princely home. 'How beautiful is earth,' said the man, as, a few days afterwards, he rambled to the spot where he first pressed its soil, and how happy are her children! Before I came here I thought that peace was more common than bliss, that quiet was more frequent than joy; but hitherto l have investigated at a disadvantageous distance, and here I find that my ignorance was proverbial. Nevertheless, I have the will and capacity to learn, and the duke himself shall not know more of his neighbours than I will ascertain.' He bounded over a sweet-briar hedge, and wended his way to a little hamlet, which nestled between the grove and upland at a short distance. He entered the nearest cot, and the first sound which reached his ears was a cry for bread. Bread-BREAD!' repeated he, 'I saw it given to the dogs this morning. Bread! there is enough at the castle. Go to the duchess, my child, she will give you enough of bread.' The child ceased her cry, but looked at him wonderingly, and an elderly sister shook her head, yet said nothing. Then the man heard a moan from a low pallet, and Fooking into the dark recess, he saw stretched upon it the emaciated form of a woman. She called the girl to her side. 'Is there not a little more wine in the phial?' she asked. 'Not one drop,' was the reply. The woman moaned more faintly. 'Wine! wine!' repeated the man; we drank last night at the castle until our heads ached, and some of the company were carried away drowned by it. Wine and bread he repeated, as he turned upon his heel, and flew towards the castle.-He entered the drawing-room, and a servant passed him with a silver salver, upon which were refreshments for the ladies, and the sideboard was covered with various wines. He grasped a bottle, and snatching the salver from the waiter, he turned to go. But the astonished domestic made such an outcry, and vociferated, 'Thief! robber!' so lustily that he was soon overtaken. The duke came to learn the cause of the tumult. 'He was stealing your silver,' repeated the servant, 'after all your kindness to him.' The duke looked at his mysterious guest with a penetrating eye. I saw a child almost within a stone's throw of your mansion,' replied the man, who cried for bread. I saw also a woman fainting for a cordial, and here I knew that there was enough of bread and wine. I ran that they might the sooner be relieved from their misery." The duke blushed as he heard the simple reply of the man, and almost doubted for the moment whether he himself were a man. Bread and wine were instantly despatched by the servant, and the duke took the stranger into his closet. What he told him there is what my readers already know-that want and misery stand even within the sunshine of plenty and prosperity; that sickness, pain, and death are in the daily paths of the rich and powerful; that all these things are looked upon as necessary evils, and not allowed for a moment to interrupt the usual course of business and amusement. But he could not make it appear to the man out of the moon as it did to himself. The more common it is, the more dreadful it seemed to this wanderer from another sphere. The more difficult it appeared to find the remedy, the more earnestly he thought it should be sought. It seemed to him that the great fault was in the government, and at its head was a lady as young, as kind, as compassionate as the duke's eldest daughter. He left the castle, and hastened to the capitol. He lingered not by the way, but sighs obtruded themselves upon his notice which gave him much pain. He sought the palace; he asked audience of the queen. He brought no references, no introductions, and could not be admitted to the young sovereign; but his earnestness gained him an interview with one of her counsellors. He had so much to say, and knew so little how to say it, his ideas were all in such confusion, that it was some time before the minister could gather aught from him. To the point,' said he at length. Tell me, stranger, what you want.' I want RIGHT!' said the man. 'I came a stranger to your land, and at first all appeared to me very beautiful; but I soon found hunger, destitution, and death. I inquired the cause, and asked for the remedy. I was told there was none; but I found that if relief could be obtained this was the place to look for it. I left for this city. I hurried on my way; but unless I shut my eyes, I could not but see wrong. I have seen huge heaps of grain converted into liquid poison, and starving men drunk of it that they might drown all sense of want and misery. I have seen broad fields lie waste as pleasure ground, while squalid crowds were faint for food. I saw a mighty ship filled with brave men; and their garments glittered with beauty, and gushing strains of music stirred their noble hearts. I thought it a glorious sight, but I learned that they were sent to kill or be killed of their fellow-men. I saw a high and narrow structure spring upward to the sky; and they brought out a man and put him to death between the heavens and the earth. Crowds of men gazed upward at the sight, and think ye not that God looked down? I went into an old moss-grown church, and there I saw the man who prayed at the gallows; and all the people said with him, Be ye also merciful, even as your Father in heaven is merciful. For if ye forgive not men their trespasses, how will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses P' But the more my spirit was pained within me, the more I hurried to this place. And when I was come I saw mighty palaces for the accommodation of a few, and I saw also men herding together in filth and wretchedness; and those who had not where to lay their heads. I have seen warehouses filled with clothes for raiment, and stout men passed by them with scarce a rag to cover them; yet touched they nothing. I have seen bakeries full of bread, and storehouses filled with other food; and savage-looking men proved that they were not fiends, for they did not strike dead those who withheld from them these provisions. Even here I have seen dogs and horses receive the attention denied to man. You ask me what I want; I want to know if you have known aught of this; and, if so, why stand you here idle?' 'Who are you?' rejoined the astonished courtier. 'The man out of the moon.' 'Aha, aha! a lunatic! I thought as much. Now let me see if we have not a nice place for you which you have not yet espied;' and calling the servants, he ordered them to take the man to the hospital. But he slipped from their grasp and was soon out of the way. He strayed to the sea-side, for there was there less of the misery he could not relieve. He found a man sitting upon a solitary rock, and gazing far out upon the waters. There was that in his eye which told the lunarian that there he might meet with sympathy. So they sat together, while the sea-winds moaned around them, and talked of wrong and oppression. 'But why do the people bear all this ?' asked the man. Why do they not rise in their strength, and demand clothing, food, and shelter? Why do they not stretch out their hands and take it, when almost within their grasp? Why at least do they not die as men, rather than live like beasts?' 'They are enchanted,' was the reply of the philosopher. Then the man thought how impossible it would be for him to disenchant them, and he sighed; and when the philosopher had gone he unrobed himself, and spread his wings, and flew across the channel till he came to another land. We will not follow him, as he strayed through various cities, towns, and villages, along the Mediterranean. But he heard of it everywhere-he had heard of it before he crossed the channel-of a happy land, far across many wide waters-a new world, where tyranny, oppression, and corruption, had not found time to generate their train of evils. He yearned for this better land; and one night, when the sky was dark with sombre clouds, and no one could witness his flight, he left the old for the newer continent. He alighted at the plantation of a wealthy gentleman. With manly courtesy he was received, and entertained with chivalrous generosity, which asked no questions of the stranger, and knew nothing but that he needed rest. He was truly weary, and spent some quiet days in the family of his host, for whom he formed quite an attachment. But one day, as he was walking in the grounds, he heard the voice of piercing lamentation. He looked around, and saw a negro woman, with her young child pressed to her bosom, and sobbing as though her heart would break. He in. quired the cause of her sorrow, and heard that her husband had just been taken away to be sold to another master. Her children had been taken from her long before-all but the babe upon her breast. The man could not understand this at first, but after long questioning be learned some of the evils of slavery. He returned to his host. He was sitting with his wife at 'Who are you?' replied the host, 'that you speak thus moon, but I would gladly leave it for any other world. You seem to have returned to it from heaven?' 'It was my home,' replied the spirit. There I first received existence; there I first drew the breath of life. It was my first home; and though I know it is full of sin and sorrow, yet at times I leave heaven that I may view it once again.' 'And did you know, while there, that it was filled with guilt, ignorance, or pain? or did you neglect the great interests of humanity for selfish pleasure ?' 'I did not live for myself alone. I endeavoured to live for my kind, and to find my happiness in trying to promote the well-being of others. I see now that I might have done more, but I saw it not then. God had given me a feeble frame, and I might not go forth actively among my brethren. But I sent my voice among them. I spoke aloud in behalf of the wronged and downtrodden. I spoke not of one evil, but of that which is the source of all evil. I spoke to the young, knowing that they would soon be the middle-aged to act, and then the aged to die. I sent my voice among the ignorant, and invited them to come to the tree of knowledge. And my bliss is now in the assurance I have received, that my words will not be forgotten.' 'But if you were doing good,' said the man, sternly, The man felt as though he would rather continue freewhy did you go thence?' of all such obligations, and on the night when all things were preparing for his exit, he spread his wings upon the darkness and flew away. He had heard the negroes speak of a land to the north, where they were no slaves, where oppression, cruelty, and selfishness did not exist; and he thought that must be the better land of which he had so often heard. He came to its far-famed city-that where morals, intelligence, and prosperity are more nearly connected than in any other. He was pleased at first, but soon became dissatisfied, because it fell far short of his ideas of social perfection. Here were also wealth and poverty-here were misery, selfishness, and pride. He saw a wealthy lady roll along in her carriage, while a feeble woman could hardly totter across the streets. 'The carriage would have held more than two,' said he to himself. He followed the faltering footsteps until he came to a cellar. The woman approached a bed, upon which two children were gasping for breath. 'Can nothing be done for them?' asked the man. I have just called a physician,' replied the mother. In a few moments he came in. He looked tenderly at his little patients. They are dying of want,' said he. They want everything they should now have; but first of all, is the want of fresh air.' The man started from the house, and ran to a street in which was the residence of an eminent philanthropist. His questionings had already led him to a knowledge of the good. He came to the house. The master was not at home-he had gone to his countryseat, and his mansion was vacant, with the exception of one servant, who was left to open the windows each day, and see the cool air breathed through the deserted rooms. And, as he looked at the lofty, well-ventilated, and vacant apartments, he thought of the children who were dying in a neighbouring cellar for want of air. The man was wearied, disappointed, and vexed. 'If this is the happiest spot on earth,' said he, then let me go back to the moon.' It was a lovely starlight night. The moon, like a silver crescent, hung afar in the blue ether, and there was one bright solitary cloud in the clear sky. The man spread his wings, and, bidding farewell to earth, he turned his face upward to a better home. As he passed the bright cloud he thought he saw, faintly delineated as though in bright shadow, the outlines of a human form. He approached nearer, and the cloud seemed like a light couch, upon which an etherealised being reclined. Lofty intellect and childlike mildness were blended in his pale spiritual countenance, but there was a glance of sorrow in his deep eyes which told that, if an angel, he had not forgotten the trials of earth. The man said to him, 'I have just left earth for the 'I was called,' replied the spirit, gently. 'And is there any who may take your place?' 'I hope and believe there are many noble spirits, whe are as earnest, as able, as faithful, and more active, who are labouring for their brother man. But there is another agent. Would you witness it?' and, drawing aside a drapery of cloud, he disclosed a shining volume. The night breeze gently wafted its leaves, and, in letters of brightness, were written upon them such words as these: God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' The labourer is worthy of his hire.' All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them. 'With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.' The man glanced at them, and then said, 'Is this book there?' 'It is there,' replied the spirit, and there it will remain until its words are embroidered upon the hems of their garments, engraved upon the bells of their horses, and bound as frontlets between their eyes. Yea, even until they are impressed upon the hearts of all men.' The spirit veiled the book again in aerial drapery, and disappeared himself in the bright cloud. The man turned away, with a spirit less sad; and ere morning dawned he looked down again from his 'old ac customed place,' with his usual placid smile; and none would now know from his benign expression, that we, poor erring mortals, had ever grieved and angered the Mau in the Moon.-Lowell Offering. PORTRAIT GALLERY. REV. HENRY COOKE, D.D. LL.D. Professor of Sacred Rhetoric for the General Assembly of the Presby terian Church in Ireland. Ir is now more than two hundred years since Presbyte rianism planted her standard in the province of Ulster. The worthies from the land of mountain and of flood,' by whom that standard was first erected, had felt the tossings of the tempest of persecution; and they loved their religion as the parent loves the child who has shared with him the night of peril.' This is not the place to record the trials and triumphs of Ulster Presbyterianism, or to trace its varied fortunes through cloud and sunshine. One feature, however, belonging to this section of the Christian church, may be particularly alluded to, inasmuch as it appears with marked prominence in the subject of the present sketch. The church of Knox, in common with its illustrious founder, repeatedly encountered the frowns |