mutual consent, for consultation and advice. The allusion in the first paragraph is to his southwestern tour.

"At the close of this period, on my return to New England, some alterations were about being made in the situation of Dr. Worcester, with a view to his more entire devotedness to the cause of missions, and my attention was directed, both by him and yourselves, to a connection with him in the work of the ministry in this place. In determining the question of my duty, you will recollect how explicitly I made it a condition of my agreement with you, that a portion of my time should be reserved for the same kind of efforts which I had already been in the habit of making in aid of the cause of public charity. The condition was acceded to on your part, and I became connected with your late minister in the pastoral office. No change occurred in my relation to the church and society, until the death of the senior pastor. That unexpected and mournful event, made a new arrangement necessary, and accordingly, one was made by which I became your sole pastor. From that time I withdrew more from public engagements, and applied myself almost exclusively to the duties of the ministerial and pastoral office. It appeared to me that the voice of God in his providence, which had formerly called me to devote either the whole or a part of my time to the benevolent institutions of the day, now demanded that I should devote myself to the duties of minister and pastor. Accordingly, I endeavored to pursue such a course of study and labor as would best qualify me for the work of the ministry, and make me in the end, most useful to you and your children. Several years passed away in this manner, with no change in my situation, except that my labors were becoming a source of more and more pleasure to myself, and rendering my situation among you, as I thought, more permanent and useful. I had no wish to change my condition for any

other. Indeed, I have no expectation of ever enjoying more contentment in any situation which admits of trials of any kind. Such was the state of my connection with you, when I began to perceive, more than two years ago, that a conviction was extensively prevailing among the patrons and conductors of some of our principal benevolent institutions, that I ought to devote myself, as I had done in the early part of my ministry, to the church generally; and without any knowledge or wish of mine, measures were taken to lay the subject officially before my own mind, and the minds of my people. Unwilling that any thing should be done to cause unnecessary or premature anxiety to you, I earnestly requested of those who were making application, that no public steps should be taken, until I had had time to weigh the subject myself, and to make up, if I could, my own opinion on the question of duty. If my own judgment should be against the application, the subject would of course drop there, and your minds would be saved the trouble of considering it at all. It would be more than I am willing to do, to describe minutely the various instances in which I have, in this manner, been called upon, within little more than two years past, to form opinions concerning my duty. I have been applied to, either formally or informally, in numerous instances, I think eight or nine times, by the representatives of various public or other religious institutions, and requested to become connected with them. These applications, including two from the American Education Society, I have thought it my duty to decline, and of course have avoided making any communications to you respecting them. The first application which I received from the American Education Society, was made two years and a half ago. It was declined; and the Rev. Joseph Harvey, of Goshen, Connecticut, was chosen secretary of the society. His health failing, the last winter, I was again

appointed, and again declined. I was aware that I was acting contrary to the opinion of some of my most respected and intelligent friends in different parts of New England, but such were my doubts respecting the subject, that I did not feel justified in communicating any other reply.

"The situation of Mr. Harvey rendering it impossible that he should immediately devote his attention to the interests of the society which had been in a very suffering state, though it had then under its care no less than two hundred and fifty young men of hopeful piety and promise, in a course of preparation for the ministry, I consented to engage in an agency of three months, provided that Mr. Harvey would suspend his resignation for that period, and take measures to recover his health. This was the reason, as you are already apprized, of my late absence. I had a strong hope that at the close of my stipulated term of labor, the secretary would be able to resume his duties, and that any further measures to supply his place would be unnecessary. In this hope, however, I was disappointed. Mr. Harvey gave in his final resignation but a few days previous to my return, and left the important office, which he had held, vacant. Under these circumstances, I was again called by the directors of the society, to consider whether it might not be my duty, and whether the recent leadings of God in his providence did not make it my duty, to take the subject into more serious consideration than ever? They had no doubt that it was their duty to bring it distinctly before me, and therefore at a special meeting held on the first day of this month, chose me to be their secretary. It was done upon their own responsibleness, and without any pledge whatever from me.

"But I will not conceal from you, that having taken upon myself in so many instances, the business of declining the applications which I have received, applications

never solicited by me, and coming too, not from one institution only, but from various institutions, acting in some cases entirely independently of each other, I have felt unwilling to take this course any longer. Respect for public opinion, if I had no other motive to influence me, demands that I should not. Respect for those who hold distinguished stations in the church, both in and out of New England, and who have communicated to me their views of the subject, demand that I should not. But especially if I am to regard these various and often repeated solicitations as any indications of the will of God, I cannot, I dare not any longer assume the responsibleness of deciding them alone. The interests at stake, both on the one hand and on the other, are too great to be determined by individual opinion. I have resolved, therefore, to lay the subject before the church, and to request them to unite with me in calling a council of churches, for the purpose of giving that course to the question of duty which has been commonly done in Congregational churches in New England in similar cases.

Happy should I have been, my dear people, if I could consistently have prevented this subject from coming before you. I have long had my own mind agitated, while yours has been at rest. I would still have kept every cause of anxiety within my own breast, had I not after many struggles arrived at a full and settled conviction that it is my duty to refer the subject to the decision of an ecclesiastical council. If God is ever to be acknowledged, and direction to be sought in those ways which he has pointed out, it is in such cases as these. Nor will any thing be gained, ultimately, by the pastor or the people, if either of them cherish an unwillingness to inquire what is the will of God; or when it is ascertained, to submit to it. The experience and the observation of the best of men have proved what the word of God so

abundantly teaches, that the path of obedience is the only path of safety and happiness. No one who departs from it has any assurance of the blessing of God, and may, like the children of Israel, find his most coveted enjoyments a source of severe and uninterrupted trials. If I know my heart, I desire to learn my duty and to do it. By pursuing those methods which God commonly makes use of for communicating his will, I hope to ascertain it. At least, I shall have the satisfaction arising from sincere, honest intention to discover the path of duty, and if you, my people, follow the same course, you will have the same satisfaction, and be the issue what it may, you may hope to receive, what I cannot but believe you have in former instances of a similar nature received, the approbation and blessing of God."

The following remarks were communicated to the council.

"The principles by which my own mind has been governed in the case, may be gathered from the documents which have already been communicated. I hold the connection between a minister and his flock to be one of the dearest and most sacred which can be formed on

this side of the grave. The circumstances under which it takes place, the interests and objects which it is intended to promote, and the actual influence which it exerts on the destinies of eternity, all stamp it with a sacredness and importance which belong to few relations in this world. It is a connection, therefore, which may not be broken for any but the most weighty reasons. In the present case I hope I may be pardoned if I say the connection is one of strong and mutual endearment. It has hitherto been one of the felicities of my ministry to be placed over a united as well as numerous church and people. A state of entire public harmony has prevailed