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CHAPTER IV.

INSTALLATION 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 development 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.

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 can 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."

The intelligent reader will be impressed with the disinterested spirit of the Christian religion, in connection with an unusual degree of natural magnanimity, in perusing the correspondence by which the precise arrangements with Dr. Worcester, were settled. It is difficult to ascertain 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. It is all, I can assure you, a very serious matter 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;

to 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 In the missionary

an irresistible conviction of duty. 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.

"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 been hastily decided, can, I think, need no explanation. That it should have required more than ordinary time for reflection, for prayer, and advice, will not be thought surprising, when it is known that the subject was attended with more than ordinary embarrassments. Under the weight of a responsibility so great, no means were to be neglected, which might assist the mind in coming to a satisfactory decision.

"Those means have been sacredly employed, and a decision formed, resting upon a few leading principles, which, though often made known, I deem it my duty to repeat in the most clear and intelligible manner.

"It will be recollected that for several years I have been publicly and unreservedly devoted to the missionary cause. To that cause, in the honest feelings of my heart, I am still devoted. Its importance as a means of promoting the glory of God and the good of mankind, I regard as second to no other interest. It was in accordance with this opinion, and the belief that God had called me in a particular manner to promote it, that I stated to your committee, and many others of your society, the last winter, my object in having hitherto refused every solicitation to settle in the ministry, and my determination, that if hereafter called to settle in any place, it would be consented to, on such conditions only, as would admit of continuing my services a part of the year in aid of that or some other object of public charity. It was thought by many that the situation of your present pastor, and our long and mutual connection in the missionary service, would give peculiar facilities to such an arrangement, in case of my being associated with him in the pastoral office. It was in consequence of the opinion repeatedly expressed to me on this subject, both in and out of Salem, that I allowed

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