It is a pleasing consideration that, amidst the spiritual darkness which unhappily prevails in many parts of the land, God nevertheless has a people.

It not unfrequently happens, that single individuals are to be found who, though very disadvantageously situated with regard to the ordinary means of grace, have received truly saving impressions, and through a blessing on secret meditation, reading, and prayer, are led to the closest communion with God, and become eminently devoted Christians.
It is the no small error of too many professors of the present day, to overlook or undervalue the instances of this kind which exist.

The religious profession and opinions of some have too much of mere _machinery_ in their composition.

If every wheel, pivot, chain, spring, cog, or pinion, be not exactly in its place, or move not precisely according to a favourite and prescribed system, the whole is rejected as unworthy of regard.

But happily "the Lord knoweth them that are his;" nor is the impression of his own seal wanting to characterise some who, in comparative seclusion from the religious world, "name the name of Christ, and depart from iniquity." There are some real Christians so particularly circumstanced in this respect, as to illustrate the poet's beautiful comparison:-- "Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air." Yet this was not altogether the case with the Dairyman's daughter.