no means inconsiderable. The tenderness and power of that faculty are often greatly lessened by the loose and desultory manner of transacting pecuniary concerns, which many professing Christians adopt. A great revolution in the habits of men, in this particular, will be effected when they will bring their conscience beneath the clear and searching light of God's law. They will see and feel that a Christian character, in it's proper meaning, can be maintained only by doing at the right time, and in the right manner, every duty which devolves upon them.

Closely allied with the preceding trait was integrity. Of the property of the church, which was intrusted to his care, Mr. Cornelius was a faithful steward; conscious that the prosperity, if not the very existence of our benevolent associations, is depending on the rigid honesty of those, who have the disposal of the public funds. He had evidently studied this subject, with much seriousness and attention. Instead of subjecting himself to the charge of delinquency and carelessness, he, perhaps, erred on the other extreme. He frequently mentioned to the writer of this article, that he never performed a journey of considerable length, in behalf of a public object, without a sacrifice of his pecuniary interests. When urged to adopt efficient measures to secure a more comfortable pecuniary support, he was accustomed to bring forward in justification of his conduct, the example of Paul, who gladly relinquished his own rights that he might put no hindrance in the way of the gospel. We have rarely known an instance of honesty more scrupulous, of integrity farther beyond the reach of suspicion, accompanied, at the same time, with great, and, considering his circumstances, munificent liberality.

Mr. Cornelius possessed, in a striking degree, the power of inducing others to co-operate with him, in the accomplishment of his plans. It was very difficult for an individual, however fortified in an adverse opinion, to resist his eloquent persuasions. One secret of his success, in this particular, was his personal experience in deciding questions of duty. He had fully investigated those considerations by which all men of religious principle are wont to be guided. He could also state a question to every description of minds with remarkable clearness. He did not carry his point so much by the invention of new arguments, as by a luminous presentation of the obvious and ascertained facts and arguments belonging to the question. We have been surprised at the facility with which men of moderate capacity, apprehended his meaning. He had none of that vanity which causes a man to hunt for original thoughts and modes of expression, at the expense of perspicuity and impression. He was willing, also, to reiterate the same great motives and arguments, when an ambitious spirit, or personal intellectual benefit, would have tempted him to have taken a different course. Such, moreover, was the vigor of his imagination, and the strength of his feelings, that he could clothe a subject in rich and attractive colors. He was deeply interested himself in whatever business he undertook, and this enabled him to present it to others in its most impressive forms. His object was not, however, attained by overstatement, or by an enumeration of unimportant circumstances, but by showing the prominent aspects of the question in their bearing on the salvation of the world. And here it may be remarked, that he ever retained the friends and auxiliaries which he had secured to his cause. Those who had bestowed of their substance, bountifully, at his solicitation, welcomed his return. He had qualities, which made it delightful to be associated with him-a deep and sincere interest in the welfare of others, even in minute particulars unaffected kindness of manner-great delicacy of feeling—

freedom from every species of envy and jealousy-the practice of heartily commending others, when it could be done with truth-and a confident belief in the certain and glorious triumph of the enterprize in which he was engaged. This last circumstance was very apparent. He was accustomed to dwell upon the encouraging aspects of his course. Some excellent men, by allowing their minds to fasten on the apathy of real Christians, on the avarice of mercenary professors of Christianity, and on the appalling obstacles in the way of success in the unbelieving world, exceedingly impede their usefulness. They become timid, gloomy, jealous, if not misanthropic. They rarely mingle with their harsh complaints and denunciations, the soft words of persuasion and encouragement. They do not follow the example of Paul, who commended his brethren whenever he could do it in consistency with truth. Mr. Cornelius acted on the principle of the Romans, never to despair of the commonwealth. He threw around him an air of cheerfulness and hope. This example animated the bosoms of his coadjutors. They felt inspired by the presence of a leader, who was so confident of victory, and so able, with the blessing of God, to secure it.

One of the traits in his character to which his success in public life was greatly owing, was the union of sound judgment and ardent emotion. A stranger, after listening to his public addresses, might conclude that however efficient he might be in action, he would not be uncommonly discreet in counsel. But the important public measures of his life, will bear the severest examination. In matters comparatively unimportant, errors in judgment might be discerned. But whenever a great interest was at stake, no man would submit to more patient deliberation. We will select a striking instance of his forethought, at the very commencement of his public career in 1818.

At the time in which he visited the councils of the Creek and Cherokee Indians, for the purpose of inducing them to co-operate in the establishment of schools and missions among their people, the government of the United States were endeavoring to induce the Indians to remove west of the Mississippi. Soon after the arrival of Mr. Cornelius in New Orleans, a friend in Tennessee informed him, that a report was in circulation in that State, that he had used all his influence while with the Indians, to persuade them not to sell their lands and emigrate, according to the wishes of the government of the United States; and further, that on the strength of this report, the Governor of Tennessee had written to the Secretary of War, cautioning him to guard against the influence and designs of Mr. Cornelius. This intelligence, totally unexpected as it was, did not lead him to act unadvisedly, nor to delay acting promptly. It happened most providentially that when he had visited the Indian tribes, two or three Tennessee merchants were in company with him on their way to New Orleans, and had heard all his communications with the Indians, as he had acted solely through the medium of an interpreter. He immediately procured affidavits from these merchants, fully disproving the charges which had been made against him, and forwarded them to the Department of War. This measure at once corrected the misapprehension, and restored to him the confidence of the government. On his return to Washington, he deposited in the records of the Secretary's office, a document, containing a complete view of the whole case. Such judgment and prompt action, in an inexperienced youth of twenty-one, is certainly not common. If the inquiry is made for the cause of this maturity of judgment in an individual who had feelings so ardent, the reply would be, that it was doubtless in part to be attributed to an original structure of his mind. He

was also in the habit of carefully consulting the opinions of others. When a case of great importance came before him, no one was more anxious to receive the light which others could scatter in his path. He was habitually accustomed, also, to look to the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He did not cultivate simply a general feeling of dependence upon him. He had an abiding conviction of the real existence and presence of the Saviour. He cherished, in a remarkable degree, the belief, that every circumstance, however minute, which has reference to the prosperity of the church, is under the special care of its Great Head. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do, contained a sentiment, which was ever on his lips, and which was deeply engraven on his heart. His prayers, without degenerating into trifling' minuteness or tedious prolixity, were marked by an intelligent enumeration of those particulars which were best calculated to awaken his own feelings, and by a solemn recognition of the interest which his Redeemer felt in all the plans, that respected his own glory and kingdom.

Those, who were conversant with Mr. Cornelius, must have been struck with the enlargement of his views and the philanthropy of his feelings. This was apparent and prominent in all the relations which he sustained. He looked above and beyond local feeling, and party prejudice, and sectarian selfishness, and national antipathies. He was emphatically the friend of the human race. No circumstance ever filled him with more unaffected sorrow than the prospect of divisions among the churches of Christ. He felt that all, who had been redeemed by the blood of Christ, should show their high calling by living at peace with one another. This catholic spirit was not attained by any sacrifice of principle. He loved the great doctrines of the gospel, and on them alone placed his hope of eternal life. Still he held the truth in love. He made his very attachment to the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, the occasion of more fervent and expansive regard to all who were rejoicing in the same precious faith.

It might be inferred, perhaps, from the preceding remarks, that energy must have been one of his prominent characteristics. This enabled him, by the grace of God, to accomplish in a few year, great results. He seems to have had, especially during the last years of his life, a strong impression of the brevity of human existence, and a belief that if he intended to do anything for his fellow men, it must be done now. It was interesting to see how active his mind was in providing against any relaxation or intervals in his engagements. He was as solicitous to anticipate and forestal labor, as many others are rest and amusement. His mind was ingenious and fertile in discovering expedients, on an elevated scale, for doing good. At the time of his death, he probably had plans and objects in view, which would have required in their execution, a much larger space than is allotted to man upon earth. This promptitude of character was essentially aided by some of his personal habits. While in the prosecution of an enterprize, he rarely intermitted his work, for the sake of examining his motives. Such a step would have evidently weakened and retarded his efforts. For the time being, he threw himself, and all his capabilities of mind and action, into the enterprize before him. Previously to entering on his labors, he carefully examined the state of his heart, and frequently set apart an entire day for spiritual preparation. When his engagement terminated, he faithfully reviewed the condition of his soul, and sought repentance for those things which had been repugnant to his profession. Though this method of self-examination might not be expedient to such as have favorable opportunities, daily, yet in a public

agent, it is altogether the wisest course. Such a man, while rapidly journeying from place to place, compelled to accomplish, within a given period, a great amount of business, has no time nor place to stop, and critically investigate his motives. He must make prayer and self-examination a stated and special work. The energy in the character of Mr. Cornelius was increased by the thorough knowledge of his duties, which he at all times possessed. He did not toil in ignorance or misapprehension. He obtained a clear idea of the specific work before him, and made skilful arrangements for its prosecution and completion. Of course he rarely wasted his energy, and suffered little from any despondency of mind, consequent upon such waste. His energy, however, did not partake, in the least, of obstinacy or fierceness. He had gentle feelings and truly delicate sensibilities. Often did he bind up the broken heart, and heal the wounded spirit. He loved to administer the consolations of the gospel at the bedside of the sick and dying. No acts of his life are cherished with more grateful remembrance, by his flock at Salem, than those performed on such occasions. It was not an affected or an official display of sympathy. It was the outpouring of a heart full of tenderness. In his intercourse with his family there was a mingled expression of dignity and kindness. The authority of the parent was sweetly blended with the amenity of a friend and companion. It is in the social circle where a breach has been made which time will never close. There has been the crushing of fond hopes. The mere respect and esteem, which a general acquaintance with him could not fail to produce, may be forgotten; but the circle of friends, who knew him intimately, will need something more than the lapse of time, or intercourse with the world, to efface their sorrow. May He, who is the Resurrection and the Life, establish with them his covenant of peace.

Mr. Cornelius, though he was called away before he reached the middle period of life, did not live in vain. He gave a noble testimony to the fact that Christianity is an inward principle, controlling the heart, moulding the life, and effectually subduing every adverse interest. Wherever he went, he carried the conviction that he was not laboring for himself, but for his Lord and Master. He had fixed his eye on the conversion of all mankind to Christ. When he first entered on his religious life, this was the idea which took possession of his soul. He felt that he had experienced the grace of God only, that he might bring others to partake of the same blessed grace. Doing good became the passion of his soul. For this he expended the energies of a muscular frame, of a comprehensive intellect, and of a fervent spirit, till death interrupted his work, or rather changed its sphere. With earthly passions he had, indeed, to contend. With the warfare between the "spiritual man," and the "heart which is by nature desperately wicked," he was intimately conversant. Still he kept his eye fixed upon the divine Redeemer, and in his strength, went forth to the conflict. The motto, which he formally adopted, and upon which he acted, was, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest after having preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." The most powerful means, which he adopted for this purpose, was doing good— laboring for Christ. In this course, he sacrificed ease, prospects of worldly competence, and literary hopes.

God, in his holy sovereignty, has taken him away. He teaches us most affectingly that he can do without us or any of our services. The utter vanity of all earthly dependences was never more impressively exhibited. Who now can feel that any man's existence is indispensable for the

advancement of the Christian cause? Who will not now place a more entire confidence in Christ? Who will not, while he adores the profound mystery of God's providence, give himself to his work with redoubled energy? If we are followers of them, who have fought the good fight, we shall soon join their society. A blessed company is collecting around the throne. Rapidly are the redeemed of the Lord gathering from their wide dispersion, and sitting down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. _The ties, which connect us with heaven, are constantly increasing. "There our best friends and kindred dwell." There is our glorious Redeemer. Let us so live that when the Bridegroom cometh, we may go out with joy to meet him.

For the Quarterly Register.

UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF GORDON HALL.

IN the following extracts from letters of the late Rev. GORDON HALL, missionary at Bombay, we hear a voice, as from another world, calling upon the young men in our colleges and seminaries of learning, to go forth for the salvation of the perishing nations of the heathen world. They were addressed to the "Society of Inquiry respecting Missions, at Andover;" but are equally applicable to every candidate for the ministry, and to every young man, whose duty it may be to prepare for the sacred office. They have lain concealed among other letters of the Society too long. May they now be read with pious candor, and humble prayer, by every student, and produce the effect so ardently desired by the writer. T.

"There are among you, brethren, some who have not yet decided whether it be their duty to go to the heathen or not. To such, I can say, beloved brethren, I know how to sympathize with you. Such, for a long time, was the anxious state of my own mind on the same subject. But now it astonishes me, to think that I so long hesitated on a subject so plain. It was no doubt my sin, though perhaps somewhat extenuated by circumstances which no longer exist. When my mind was first exercised on the subject, I knew of but one in the country, who thought of becoming a missionary to the heathen; and he has not as yet, to my knowledge, engaged in the work. Besides, through all my inquiries, until I had decided on the subject, it was not known that any support could be obtained in our country. I bless God, that notwithstanding all that opposed, I was enabled to decide as I did. I verily believe it will be matter of joy to me through eternity. Should you make the same decision, brethren, I have no doubt you will find the same satisfaction in it. "But you are not decided. Each of you anxiously inquire, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Shall I go to the heathen?' Here historical inquiries and geographical knowledge are of little avail. The decision must be made in view of one single command, and one single fact. Jesus Christ, the God of our salvation, has commanded his disciples to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' This is the command. But even at this day, there are six eighths of the population of the globe, to whom the gospel has not been preached. This is the fact. In view of this command and of this fact, how ought you to decide?

"Eighteen hundred years ago, Christ gave this perpetual command; and to quicken his disciples in the obedience of it, he gave them the most