be separated even in imagination, righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

Loss to the Missionary Cause. The greatness of the loss, which the missionary cause has sustained by the death of our lamented friend, can be fully appreciated by those only, who were in habits of free and familiar consultation with him, and who knew the extent and arduousness of his labours by actually participating in them. Still it must be obvious to persons of any reflection, that the duties, which he discharged, must require a mind of no ordinary compass and power, and a heart of uncommon devotedness to the kingdom of Christ. Nor is it less obvious, that no mind can act with energy, judgment, and prudence, in reference to many and complicated subjects, without a preparation obtained by laborious habits and diligent observation. The oversight of missions demands the possession of faculties, which are susceptible of great improvement by experience; such as discernment of character, an easy exertion of influence over others, precaution, and steady fortitude under discouragements. These faculties, in order to their most beneficial exercise, need the sanctifying influence of deep religious principle, and the promptings afforded by that greatest of all objects attainable by human instrumentality, the universal triumph of the Gospel.

Brief Character as a Pastor.

Would our limits permit, we should be much inclined to trace the early history of one, who ultimately became so much distinguished by his virtues and his usefulness; and to mark the gradual developement of those powers, which were so evidently and signally employed in the service of God. But we enter upon the consideration of his more public character; merely observing, that he was graduated at Dartmonth college in 1795, and that, for several years, he faithfully and laboriously discharged the duties of a pastor, at Fitchburg, in this commonwealth. He was called to

the oversight of the Tabernacle church and congregation in Salem, about eighteen years ago. The people of his charge were numerous; and their circumstances such, as to require a more than ordinary share of wisdom and fidelity in their pastor. They hoped much from his prudence, his sound judgment, and his evangelical labours;

nor

were their hopes disappointed. They were happy to see his influence regularly increasing; not only among themselves, but with his brethren in the ministry, and others to whose society his public station and his substantial worth introduced him. How unweariedly he filled the office of a pastor and preacher,---how sedulously he consulted the spriritual interests of his flock, -how tenderly he discharged the duties of a comforter and adviser,-and how kindly he felt toward the rising generation, can be adequately described by none but those, who were intimately conversant with him, while in the regular performance of parochial service. It is well known to many others, however, that he possessed, in an eminent degree, those qualities which are necessary to build up a church, and which greatly endear an able and faithful minister to his people. Nothing could be more apparent than that his attachment to the pastoral office was strong, uninterrupted, and increasing; nor ought it to be omitted, that the affection, which he manifested toward those, for whom he laboured as a teacher of divine truth and a guide to heaven, was most tenderly reciprocated by them. The numerous proofs of their love greatly cheered him in his course; and he was accustomed to dwell with peculiar delight, in moments of unreserved friendship, on the enjoyments of the pastoral relation.

Much employed in Public Counsels. In a community where occasions of consultation on great public objects are frequent, the man, who unites practical wisdom with energy and benevolence, will not long remain undiscovered; and the homage, which is paid to upright

intentions under the direction of a superior understanding will not long be withheld from him. Such a man will never lack employment. Though the labours to which he will be most invited will offer no emolument, and will be attended and followed by many cares and sacrifices; yet there are powerful reasons, why he should do what he can for the peace and edification of the church, the extension of divine knowledge, and, in general, for the removal of ignorance and sin, and the full establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom.

To the numerous calls for advice and service, our departed friend was never inattentive. It was very painful for him to deny an application for his presence and aid, where good was to be done, or labour to be performed; and he never did so, unless the performance of a paramount duty required him to spare his health, or discharge a previous obligation.

For a number of years he was invited to ecclesiastical councils very extensively, and in cases of peculiar difficulty. On such occasions the distinguishing traits of his character appeared to great advantage. His extraordinary judgment, moderation, and forecast, united with a firm attachment to what he deemed right, did not fail of securing to his advice the most entire respect and confidence of those with whom he acted, and of the churches generally. Early in his ministry, he became thoroughly acquainted with the ecclesiastical usages of our country; a species of knowledge, which was exceedingly useful to him and to others, throughout the subsequent course of his life. In all deliberative bodies, of which he was a member, his experience and wisdom were called into action. For several years past, it is believed he was appointed on more committees in the General Convention of the Congregational Clergy of Massachusetts than any other member. Whenever he attended the General Association à similar demand was made upon him. In

these cases, and in the deliberations of councils, it will not be thought a rash conjecture to say, that, after taking a large part in discussing, concerting, and weighing the measures to be adopted, it devolved upon him, in nine instances out of ten, to reduce those measures to form, and to embody the reasons on which they were founded. From this service he was not accustomed to shrink; and he always performed it with a laborious diligence, which ensured the approbation and thanks of his brethren.

From this representation it will be seen that a very large portion of his time and strength was expended in consultations of a public nature ;—in labours for the benefit of particular churches, or of the Christian community extensively. The sacrifices which he made, in these frequently repeated efforts, are not unknown. Many times, when suffering from pain and debility, he spent those hours, which should have been devoted to relaxation or sleep, in serious deliberation, or an elaborate arrangement of facts and arguments, or in composing a summary of kind and brotherly exhortations and admonitions. The churches, for whose peace and edification these labours were patiently undertaken and accomplished, will not forget, that they tended very materially to weaken a constitution originally firm and vigorous, and to shorten a life which all esteemed so valuable. It is obvious, that when a person is selected for the performance of difficult services, through a long course of years, and by the more intelligent portion of a well-informed community; and when the heaviest part of these services falls upon him, not only by common consent, but by the earnest desire of those who are most interested, and as if by a sort of moral gravitation; -such an exhibition of confidence is most decisive proof of superior talents and extraordinary worth. Agency in various Religious Charities.

At the formation of the Massachu

setts Missionary Society, which took place soon after his settlement in the ministry, our lamented associate was enrolled among its members. By his regular attendance at the annual meetings, his share in the public deliberations of the Society, his contributions, both stated and occasional, to its funds, and his influence with his own people, he essentially promoted the success of the institution. At an early period, he was chosen one of the Trustees, to which office he was annually re-elected till 1819, when, in consequence of the vacancy occasioned by the Rev. Dr. Spring's death, he was chosen President. This proof of affection and confidence was twice repeated. While a Trustee, he faithfully discharged the office of Secretary, during five or six years; and was punctual and diligent in attending meetings for the transaction of business. To the appointment of missionaries, the assignment of fields of labour, and the adoption of measures for directing and increasing the Society's resources, no member could have been more attentive. His surviving associates will never forget the aid and pleasure, which his presence always gave them; and succeeding generations, in our new settlements, will have occasion to remember with gratitude the wisdom of his counsels, and the extent of his benevolence. The sermon, which he preached before the Society in 1809, holds a distinguished place among the many excellent discourses, which similar occasions have called forth.

A friend to the promulgation of the Gospel among the destitute, he was of course a friend to the universal distribution of the Bible. He aided in the formation of the Massachusetts Bible Society, and of the Bible Society of Salem and the Vicinity. Of the latter he was a highly respected officer.

The American Education Society furnished another field for the expansion of his enlarged desires, and the display of his beneficent activity. The want of competent religious teachers, both for the supply of our own population, and

the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen, had become so apparent, that concentrated efforts began to be made in this country, on an extensive plan, in the years 1814 and 1815, for the prevention of a calamity so awful, as a famine of the word of the Lord. Among those, who saw most clearly, and felt most deeply, the need of new and extraordinary exertions, suited to the emergency of the case, was the excellent man, whose character we are attempting briefly to describe. He was present when the constitution of the Education Society was adopted, and held the office of a Director till his increasing labours and his threatening infirmities, compelled him to decline a re-election, in the fall of 1819. The great reason why he consented to serve in the stations just described, after his cares and labours, in an office not yet mentioned, had become numerous and overwhelming, was, that he might show by his example, as well as by his declarations, that he considered the cause of missions as one, wherever the place of operations might be. Did the destitute settlements of our frontiers call for the exercise of charity? During twenty years of his life, he was occasionally employed in devising, obtaining, and directing the means of supply. Did the wretched condition of the heathen world invoke the compassion of Christendom? During his last ten years, the best powers of his mind, and the noblest qualities of his heart, were brought into habitual action, in obedience to a call so imperative. Was it desirable that the word of God should be placed within the reach of every human being? He applied his hand with equal alacrity to the distribution of the Scriptures among the ignorant of Christian countries, and to the promotion of translations for the use of distant idolaters. Was it necessary that pious young men should be prepared, by suitable study and discipline, for the work of evangelists? He promptly afforded his best advice, his efficient labours, and his fervent pray,

ers, to a measure so important to the future prosperity of the church. Nor did he think it material to know, whether a beneficiary would probably discharge the office of a preacher, on the banks of the Ganges or of the Missouri; on the shores of the Caspian, or of lake Superior; on the eastern or western coast of America; among the waste places, within the enclosures of our American Zion, or among the desolations of two thousand years, in the ancient land of promise.

We might speak of his connexion with the Domestic Missionary Society, the Tract Society, the Peace Society, and other similar associations ;--all designed to improve the moral condition of man, and bring glory to God. But we must hasten to that office, in which the closing part of his life was spent, and to which his most vigorous and successful exertions were devoted.

little opportunity for active labour. No funds had been received; no plans of extensive operations had been adopted. The Secretary, however, had not been slumbering at his post. Always an observer of missions, and well acquainted with the modern history of attempts to propagate the Gospel, he applied himself with new diligence to obtaining a correct knowledge of the heathen world to learning the difficulties and discouragements, which every missionary society must expect to encounter; and to the consideration of those great motives to action, which the steady view of a world lying in wickedness will impress upon a pious mind.

From 1812 to 1817, the concerns of the Board were increasing in number and in interest. Several cases of great delicacy occurred; and the occasions of anxious deliberation were much more numerous, than any person, not intimately acquainted with matters of this

Missions to the Heathen.

Our readers need not be told in what manner, or at what time, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions had its origin. The faithful pen of our revered associate has recorded, in the last letter of considerable length, which he ever wrote, the formation and the early history of this Society. He recorded it as an act of gratitude to God, for his favour to the rising Institution; and as an attestation, (the event has proved it to be his dying attestation,) to the great truth, that trust in God is the only safe principle of missionary enterprise.

When the Board was first organized, it was little suspected by any one, that its concerns would soon become so weighty and complicated as they actually became; or that the duties of Corresponding Secretary would be so arduous, as they actually were. Yet the choice was just as it would have been, had all these things been foreseen. Before the embarkation of the first mission, in February, 1812, there had been

of maintaining a correspondence with the missionaries; with others who were preparing to be employed in various departments of the missionary work; with the officers of similar societies, at home and abroad; and with patrons and friends in our widely extended country; must have occupied much of his time. Add to this the weight and responsibility of planning and commencing new missions ;---of providing for the comfort and usefulness of numerous families already employed, or to be employed-of preparing for meetings of the Board and of the Committee; and of laying before the public, at stated intervals, the proceedings and results, the hopes and prospects, the occurrences, both adverse and favourable, which had any bearing on this great concern ;and no one can doubt, that great courage and industry were necessary to carry a man through these efforts, amidst the cares inseparable from the oversight of a large congregation, and the public consultations to which reference has been made. Yet a vigorous exertion

was continually sustained, that, while the general operations of the Board were going forward, parochial duties and services should not be neglected.

At the annual meeting of the Board, in September 1817, the Secretary informed his associates that he could no longer continue to labour as he had done; intimating, at the same time, that it would be a great relief to him, if some other person could enter upon the du ties of his office. The concerns of the Board were constantly multiplying and enlarging. He had for a long time been obliged to give up all seasons of relaxation; all that species of intercourse which is commonly denominated social and friendly, in distinction from the details of important business, and the performance of solemn professional duty.

To dispense with his services was out of the question; and the best that the Board could do was to propose a measure, which, if acceded to by himself and his people, should release him from the greater part of his parochial duties. This measure could not go into immediate operation; and it was not till the summer of 1819, that the Rev. Elias Cornelius was settled as colleague pastor of the Tabernacle church and congregation, with the express provision, that the senior pastor might devote three quarters of his time, without interruption, to the missionary cause. In the mean while, occasional relief bad been obtained by means of candidates for the ministry, and the kindness of his clerical brethren, who appreciated the value of his services. It was a matter of no small difficulty to gain the consent of an affectionate people to an arrangement, which should deprive them of so large a share of a beloved pastor's labours; and we are warranted in asserting, that nothing but an enlarged regard to the interests of the church, and a firm persuasion that the cause in which he was embarked, might well demand great sacrifices from every professed Christian, could have gained so complete a victory over private attach

ments and personal friendship. To the honour of the deceased, it should be added, that he was never urged to continue in the office of Secretary, and to consent to a modification of the pastoral relation, by any other arguments, than such as require the followers of Christ to surrender their own ease and advantage at the call of their Master. It was clearly seen by many, and not less clearly by our departed friend than by others, that a continuance of his labours, on the plan proposed, would render the support of his family more precarious, than if he were simply a parish minister; that it would fasten upon him unceasing care and toil, exhaust his strength, probably shorten his life, and leave his family without those claims upon the kind and generous feelings of his people which would be promptly acknowledged, were his undivided services bestowed upon them. All this he saw; and then cheerfully made the sacrifice.

During the remainder of his pilgrimage, though able to accomplish much, and that in a very effectual manner, his body seemed gradually falling a prey to disease. In very few instances, we apprehend, have the mental powers been preserved in so vigorous exercise, to the very close of life, amidst pain, weariness, extreme debility, and the indications of approaching dissolution. Before we advert to the closing scene, and stand with our readers by the side of the recent grave, we shall attempt a hasty delineation of those traits, which appeared in the last and highest agency, discharged by our departed friend, while he remained on earth.

Excellence of his Character as a Conductor of Missions.

Here we could not set in pompous array, if we desired it, a host of brilliant qualities, which should glare upon the eye of a stranger, and fill him with astonishment. Yet qualities were not lacking, which will shine, we trust, with ever increasing splendour, after this world, and all that it contains, shall have passed away. Some of these were the following: