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MEMOIR OF CORNELIUS.

delicacy will, at all times, shrink from furnishing any occasion for the most distant suspicion of sinister and avaricious motives. As human nature is constituted, an agent will generally proceed more cheerfully to his work if he is conscious that he is not in any sense providing for his own support. At the same time "the laborer is worthy of his hire." The agent and the secretary of a

benevolent society are as really engaged in the service of the church, and are as fully entitled to a competent support, as the settled pastor, or the foreign missionary.

Though Mr. Cornelius prosecuted the agency in question, at several different periods in his subsequent life, yet for the sake of convenience we will now complete our record concerning it.

The original method adopted was that of collecting funds by triennial subscriptions. In this way four or five hundred dollars were secured. In the autumn of 1818, when Mr. Cornelius was appointed to the work, the plan of a permanent foundation was considered to be eligible. He conferred with a number of philanthropic gentlemen in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and procured subscriptions amounting to eleven hundred dollars. Some time afterwards two missionaries, with a very enlightened liberality, consecrated their entire property to this purpose, amounting to eleven hundred and fifty dollars. In the course of 1820, Mr. Cornelius, while performing a general agency in behalf of the Board, secured in addition between four and five thousand dollars for the support of the secretary. A large portion of this sum was also the donation of several missionaries, and was not immediately available. Mr. Cornelius accomplished considerable good at the same time, in respect to the subsequent augmentation of the fund, by the removal of prejudices, and by diffusing information in various ways.

CHAPTER IV.

SETTLEMENT IN SALEM OVER THE TABERNACLE CHURCH

STUDIES-SERMONS-PASTORAL

AGENCIES-GENERAL INFLUENCE.

LABORS-BENEVOLENT

On the 22d of July, 1819, Mr. Cornelius was installed as associate pastor with the Rev. Dr. Worcester, over the Tabernacle church and society in Salem, Massachusetts. About the same time, he received an invitation from the Congregational society in Charlestown, in the same State, to become the successor of the Rev. Dr. Morse in the pastoral office. In coming to a decision on the important question, there was a developement of the same elevated religious principle, which actuated him during his whole religious life. The means which he employed in guiding his deliberations were the advice of judicious men, consultation of the Scriptures, and prayer.

can

To the gentlemen, whose counsel he asked, he thus wrote, "I do not seek to know in what situation I can find most of private or domestic enjoyment, but where, according to the means which God has given me, I be most useful. And although I feel assured the precaution is entirely unnecessary, it will nevertheless satisfy my feelings to request, that in giving your advice, no considerations whatever of a private nature, be suffered to have the least influence, except so far as they are deemed essential to my greater usefulness. The grand, the only point to which I wish your attention to be directed, is the

question of my duty. View the subject as disconnected from every thing else, and then say, without any personal regard to places, or to men, what appears to you to be my duty to the great Head of the church. I wish to be considered for the present in a state of entire suspense, ready to obey the will of a great Master, let that will be what it may."

We were never more impressed with the disinterested spirit of the Christian religion, in connection with an unusual degree of natural magnanimity, than in reading the correspondence by which the precise arrangements with Dr. Worcester, were settled. We hardly know which

was most conspicuous, filial confidence or paternal love. It was the father providing for the son, and the son anticipating every wish of the father's heart. At the same time they took that course which must commend itself to the experience of every wise man. They made a distinct and minute arrangement of their respective duties, and reduced it to writing antecedently to the consummation of the connection. "I have to ask," says Mr. Cornelius to Dr. Worcester," that you will never imagine, that I have been excited to write on a subject of some delicacy, from the least want of confidence in your friendship or judgment. If I could be made even to suspect that this delightful confidence would be weakened, I would not hesitate a single moment to decide against the connection in question. It is because I am anxious that this confidence may be preserved inviolate, that I feel desirous of having a clear knowledge of my duties, and of taking precautionary steps, to the neglect of which, no doubt, are to be ascribed many of the evils hitherto attendant on similar connections. It is a fact, which I delight to acknowledge, that few men in this world have awakened my friendship, my confidence, and my respect, to a higher degree than yourself. In proportion to my love and esteem, would be

my grief, if they should be ever impaired. It is my desire to enter into this work, if at all, as a true yoke-fellow; to forget every other concern, but that of the Redeemer's cause; and to lose sight of every other feeling, but the happiness of doing good. I may be deceived-I am a man, a frail and sinful man. I may not know what manner of spirit I am of,' but I think my eye is single in this great undertaking. Let me request that you will not suppose I have been prompted to this minute disclosure of my views and feelings, from any fear that I should be called to labor more than my share. The Lord forgive me, if I ever, for a moment, cherished such a thought. I am willing to labor hard, to labor and not to rest till I die. I expect to toil with my might. It always has been my expectation, and I pray God that it may always be, and when I have done all, to feel that I have done no more than my duty, nor so much, and therefore am an 'unprofitable servant.'

"Praying that the blessings of millions ready to perish may come upon you, and that you may be spared to the church of Christ till the crown of gray hairs gives place to a crown of glory above, I am yours, dear sir, in the gospel of the Lord Jesus."

A part of the reply of Dr. Worcester, will not be unacceptable. "In regard to the proposed connection, I have intended to use towards you the most generous frankness and confidence. Though not addicted to an exuberance of profession, or even of words, in matters of personal concern, I have meant to make you acquainted with my desires and my views; and in this, I trust, I have not failed.

me.

It is all, I can assure you, a very serious matter to From the first, my mind has been held in the attitude of earnestly looking to see what the Lord would have me to do, or rather what he would do with me; scarcely desiring to choose, or to wish for myself. Eligibly situated,

as I was, in my ministerial connection, delighting in the pastoral work, ardently desirous of opportunity for prosecuting plans of study, which I had fondly formed and cherished, it was not without much reluctance and regret, and many sacrifices, that I yielded to proposals, earnestly pressed upon me, for the change which has been deemed advisable. I have acted under an irresistible conviction of duty. In the missionary work, indeed, I have delighted and I do delight, and I have been willing, I trust, and am still willing to labor for its advancement. But the labors of the secretaryship are arduous; its responsibilities have appalled me, and borne me down to the dust. Often have

I found my frail heart secretly panting for an escape from them; and had a way been opened to me consistently with the convictions of duty, I should not have lingered.

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Now, my dear sir, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, 'Believing in God, believing also in Christ,' come and take part with me in this great and holy work. My heart must become dead to its present most ardent affections, and forget the objects at present most dear to it, before I shall ever be indisposed to do what I can to render the connection pleasant to you, and conducive to your usefulness."

The answer of Mr. Cornelius to the invitation of the church and congregation will give a succinct view of the entire arrangements.

"To the members of the Tabernacle church and society in Salem. "Christian Brethren and Friends,

"Your communication, inviting me to settle with you in the Christian ministry, as an associate pastor in connection with Dr. Worcester, has been made the subject of the most solemn consideration. That a question of such magnitude, involving my usefulness for life, and the interests of others, for time and for eternity, should not have