of his creatures. From the window of that ark into which I was brought, as I was about leaving college, I now look out upon the troubled elements around me, and wonder how I should have dared ever to think of tempting such an ocean, in the frail bark of human reason. Many a one lies now wrecked on the reefs of passion, or sunk in the depths of licentiousness, or capsized by the winds of popular applause, who entered this strong sea with myself. Let me earnestly entreat you to seek shelter in the same ark, which has withstood the tempest and the storm, and conveyed millions in safety to the shores of everlasting blessedness and rest. Resolve, beloved youth, that wherever you go, whatever you do, you will be the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ."

To Rev. Dr. Miller, Princeton, N. J.

"We live in an age of glorious enterprize, but clearly of danger, because it is an age of great and growing excitement. The wisdom that is from above, was never more necessary than it is now, in the management of all our benevolent operations. I am sure that there is to be a great accession to the ranks of the Christian ministry. How infinitely important is it, that it should be an accession to its moral, as well as its intellectual strength; to its holiness and humility, as well as its numbers."

Though the official pastoral labors of Mr. Cornelius ceased when he left Salem, yet he cherished the spirit of an affectionate minister of Christ-ever ready to aid his brethren, or employ his efforts in behalf of destitute and afflicted churches. His acceptable and highly useful services in the Salem-street Congregational church in Boston, have been already mentioned. In the spring of 1831, there was an interesting revival of religion in Boston. For some time previously, he was deeply awa

kened to the importance of prayer and of effort in behalf of his fellow-men. For a number of weeks, he attended the early morning prayer-meetings, which were held in the lecture-rooms of various churches, particularly those connected with the Pine-street church, distant more than a mile from his dwelling. He preached and performed a great amount of pastoral labor at the Pine-street church, for about three months, and was so happy as to be the instrument of the hopeful conversion of fifty or sixty individuals. His sermous were of the most pungent and awakening character. In the opinion of all, who had been for some time acquainted with him, there was a perceptible and constant advance in the power and effect of his discourses. He thus describes the scenes which he was witnessing.

"The Lord has, I trust, begun his work in this city with power. Four hundred and eighty persons were at the different inquiry-meetings last Sabbath evening, and between forty and fifty were found who had been led, as they hoped, to submit to God, within a week. Between ninety and one hundred were present in Pine-street vestry, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather; and a number were brought, I hope, to give their hearts to Christ that evening. Mr. K., the missionary, says that he has found as many as two cases of hopeful conversion every day this week, in Pine-street congregation. Mr. G. remarks, that he has had no such inquiry-meeting for years, as he had last Sabbath evening, and so says Dr. W. This week, days of fasting and prayer have been observed by all the Baptist churches. Week after next our churches will unite in a protracted meeting. You know I was literally compelled to go to Taunton to attend a protracted meeting. I returned yesterday. The Lord was with us,

and evidently blessed the season consecrated to preaching Mr. H. was there, and related

his word, and to prayer.

some wonderful cases of conversion."

At the same time, he attended family religious meetings, of about an half hour in length, three mornings in a. week, conversing and praying with parents, children and hired servants. A number of conversions were the consequence of these efforts. During this period, he visited seventeen Sabbath schools in the city, taking the manuscript sketch of the life of Mary Lothrop, a lovely and pious little girl, who had recently died, and in whose history he had become greatly interested. He gave an account of Mary's character to the schools, concluding it with an address, and prayer. He generally visited two schools on the Sabbath, besides preaching three times. It may here be remarked, that at the annual meeting of the American Sunday School Union in 1830, he addressed the vast assembly convened on that occasion, and pledged himself to procure the establishment of one hundred Sunday schools in the valley of the Mississippi. He accordingly employed an agent for one year, for this purpose. Before his death, he received a certificate from the treasurer of the Sunday School Union, signifying that he had redeemed his promise.

During the spring, he also attended the meetings of the foreign missionary associations in Boston, making use of the death of Mr. Evarts, the former secretary of the board, as a means for exciting the friends of the cause to greater effort. From these labors abroad, "he returned to bless his house." His unwonted earnestness in prayer, his faithful admonitions, and his continual watching for the descent of spiritual blessings upon the members of his family, will never be forgotten by them.

In May, 1831, Mr. Cornelius complied with the repeated

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solicitations, which he had received to take the secretaryship of the Presbyterian Education Society, whose field of operations was now to be enlarged to its original extent, embracing nearly all the United States, except New England. It was thought by the friends of religion, in many parts of the country, that his extensive acquaintance with the Presbyterian church, its conflicting interests, and delicate relations, together with his general experience in such concerns, peculiarly qualified him for the station. The Presbyterian society was, however, still to remain in many respects connected and co-ordinate with the American society. Though he was very happy in his residence in Boston, and was strongly attached to many persons in the city, yet in obedience to the rule which he had laid down for the government of his conduct, when he first assumed the Christian profession, he accepted the appointment, and in June removed to the city of New York.

He was soon called to drink of the cup of sorrow, by the sickness of various members of his family, and by the death of a beloved inmate. These scenes of grief detached his affections more and more from earthly objects, and rapidly ripened him for that inheritance of which he was so soon to be a partaker.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHARACTER OF MR. CORNELIUS, AS A PUBLIC AGENT.

THE employment of soliciting agents for our public charities, is a subject which has recently excited considerable discussion. That there are evils connected with the system, no one pretends to deny. But that the system itself is indispensable to the progress of Christianity, is by no means a matter of doubt. Its claims upon the attention and support of the community, rest on a firm basis. Its general object is one of the highest importance, and demands an organization, in many respects, distinct from the Christian ministry, or any existing institution. It has peculiar principles, which require close study, and which a Christian pastor cannot be expected adequately to comprehend. It demands an acquaintance with human nature, theological and denominational distinctions and prejudices, as well as a minute knowledge of the particular branch of benevolent effort, which is to be advocated; such knowledge as gentlemen in any other profession will never attain. The system proceeds on the well-ascertained maxim, of the necessity of a division of labor. Were the business of benevolent agencies altogether in accordance with the employments and feelings of the stated pastor, he could not give to them that time, which their importance demands. It is one of the greatest