This Society was formed in 1815, with the view of supplying with the means of Christian instruction the rapidly increasing population of America. The plan adopted by the directors at first was to give a liberal education to pious young men of talent, who were in such limited circumstances that they could not procure it for themselves, to fit them for the Christian ministry. At first the sum given for this purpose was entirely gratuitous. Afterwards the plan of a loan society was adopted, the requisite sum being lent to the candidate without interest, but under the condition, that when able, he was to return it to the treasury that it might be applied to the support of another, and that thus its usefulness might be perpetuated.

This mode of applying Christian benevolence appears to have been very successful. Many eminently pious young men have been thus educated and prepared for preaching the gospel, who have proved invaluable blessings to their country. Mr. Cornelius was previously settled most comfortably at Salem, Con., as pastor over a large church, to whom he was much attached, and by whom he was beloved in return, and it was with no small difficulty that he left them to engage as Secretary of the above institution. It was indeed only after consulting a number of ministers from the neighbouring churches, met in conference for the express purpose of considering what his duty was in such circumstances, that he consented to leave his church, and to take upon himself the duties of this important situation.

The information communicated in this volume, regarding this and kindred institutions, will be

found peculiarly interesting at the present period, when such different opinions are abroad respecting the state of religion in the Western Continent. It will furnish a delightful specimen of the zeal and activity with which the Christians of the United States endeavour to supply the means of religious instruction to their most rapidly increasing population. In another American publication which I have lately received, entitled, "The Harbinger of the Millennium, by William Cogswell, Secretary of the American Education Society," and published in 1833, we find the following statement:-"The American Education Society aided four young men in the first year of its existence. The present year it has aided about nine hundred." This may be considered as the best authority, as Mr. Cogswell appears to have succeeded Mr. Cornelius as Secretary of the institution. This simple fact will be considered by every candid mind no mean proof of the interest taken by our American brethren in the religious instruction of their countrymen.

Whether we view Mr. Cornelius as Secretary of the Education Society, or in the capacity of a pastor over a large and flourishing church, his character appears a pre-eminent model of singular devotedness, and of ardent and persevering zeal for the glory of God and the best interests of men. The young men under the patronage of the Society he visited in the various literary institutions in which they were receiving instruction. He conversed with them individually, and with such pungency and earnestness pressed on them the importance of a high tone of personal piety as essentially necessary to their usefulness, and the fear

ful responsibility of engaging in the Christian ministry, unless it was done with proper motives, and in a proper spirit, that it is impossible to cal culate the benefit the church of Christ must have derived from their labours. I may add, that there was a sound sense and discretion most happily blended with his ardent zeal. These qualities, it is well known, and it has often been regretted, are not always found in combination. It is this happy union which, we consider, renders Mr. Cornelius an admirable model for Christians, and especially for Christian ministers of every denomination.

Interesting as this Memoir is, it would have been much more so, had not the subject of it expressly interdicted not only the publication, but the slightest inspection of some papers he left, which, it is probable, related to his personal experience of the influence of divine truth on his mind. Of these, the Editor of his life thus speaks in the preface to the American edition.-"Inexamining his papers after his death, a large collection was found, embracing evidently the records of a number of years. On the envelope, the following sentence was written. • Privale papers, to be read only by the owner, and when he has done with them, to be consumed, without opening or examination. The words underscored seemed to have been recently added. A small book was also discovered, upon the first page of which were these words, This manuscript contains my private journal of things concerning the interests of my soul. To be read and examined only by the owner, and when he has done with the same, to be consumed in the fire. This he leaves as his solemn charge, and dying request, to him, whosoever it may be, that shall obtain possession.

Let him, who would have others faithful to himself, be faithful to me.' The latter manuscript was commenced, as it would appear from the envelope, after Mr. Cornelius left home for the last time. The wish of the owner of the manuscripts has been scrupulously complied with. However great the interest which extracts from them might have imparted to the memoir, there was obviously but one course to be pursued; that of leaving them untouched. It may be a matter of regret that Mr. Cornelius decided to have them destroyed, but the adherence to his wishes, so explicitly made known, will be justified."-While the loss of such documents cannot but be a subject of regret, we cannot but respect the principle which showed such a sacred regard to the wishes of the deceased.

The two great models of Christian character which Mr. Cornelius peculiarly admired, and which he seems to have selected for imitation, were Brainerd and Martyn, and it is well known that the former of these was the object of the highest admiration of the latter. Indeed, such was the value that Mr. Cornelius attached to the life of Martyn, that he gave a copy of it, out of his own slender finances, to every one of the students, at the time that their number was nearly eight hundred.

A beautiful specimen of Mr. Cornelius's humility appeared at an early period of his history, and when enjoying the full tide of popular admiration; and I introduce it here as equally creditable to the fidelity of the person who ventured to suggest to the popular young preacher his deficiencies, and to the fine tone of Christian feeling with which that suggestion was received. Might not many bad habits and offensive peculiarities into which young

preachers are apt to fall, be avoided by them, had they always had as kind and faithful a monitor as Mr. Cornelius had on this occasion?

"The following incident," says Mr. Edwards, "we relate in the words of the excellent individual who communicated it to us, and who is now, as we do not doubt, partaking of the blessedness of the saints in light.

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"In the year 1816, soon after Mr. Cornelius became a preacher, he received a commission to solicit benefactions for foreign missions. Under this commission he preached with great acceptance in several places in the north-western parts of Connecticut. Many individuals went from town to town to hear him; some of them exclaiming, he is a second Whitefield.' It was my privilege to listen to him at Norfolk. His text was Psalm Ixxiv. 20. The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.' His discourse was in itself excellent. He gave a most striking account of the wickedness and woes of heathenism. His manner was still better. Without any appearance of wild-fire, he was wholly inflamed with his subject. Soon the flame seemed to spread through the house, and kindle every hearer. The effect was most happy. The people contributed much more than he requested. Still his discourse was probably less instructive, and less useful, than if it had been more regularly arranged and more accurately composed. And now the question with me was, Shall I tell my young brother of his defects? Can I expect that, thus borne onward by such a tide and torrent of popularity, he will be willing to stop and listen to chilling criticisms from me, upon points of comparatively small im