them. Their local situation I regard also as one of the first importance, not only on account of its vicinity to the great seat of literary, religious, and charitable enterprize in New England, but on account of its immediate connections. The council will readily believe me when I say, that I feel strongly attached to such a people and to such a place. I have labored here with great satisfaction, and I may add with a daily increasing satisfaction; and here if it shall appear my duty to remain, I shall continue to labor with great pleasure, and I hope, with enlarging prospects of usefulness. But while I make this frank and honest disclosure of my feelings, I am not insensible that there are general, as well as particular interests pertaining to the kingdom of Christ, and that although they may seem at times to clash, they are nevertheless one. I would never forget that to whomsoever my religious obligations bind me, they bind me first of all to Christ; that if ever I have sincerely dedicated myself to the ministry, the consecration has been to him, and to the highest interests of his kingdom. What I desire to know, therefore, is his will. Where he most clearly points in his providence and by his word, I would go; and where he discovers by the same means that it is my duty to stay, I would stay. That the interests of his kingdom do require in some instances, the removal of ministers from one sphere of labor to another, it would ill become me to question, since it has been acknowledged and acted upon in our churches from the time of our ancestors; and since to deny it, would be to deny that a lesser good may not sometimes be given up for a greater. Nor can I any more doubt that as the day of Zion's enlargement advances, and new systems of effort are devised for extending the triumphs of the Redeemer's kingdom over the earth, these changes will be called for, and must, in some cases, be made. On this point I have felt no difficulty. I have

no hesitancy in subscribing to what the excellent Mather states as a settled principle in the early periods of our ecclesiastical history. A pastor may be removed from his people in case his translation be found necessary for the common good. The welfare of the catholic church in the general edification of a community, should be of such weight as to make any particular churches give way thereunto.' By this general principle, I am willing - therefore that the present question should be decided.”

The question presented to the council, was one of great delicacy and difficulty. Various arguments were urged with uncommon ability by both the parties interested. At length the council came to the following conclusions.

"In coming to the result which is now to be communicated, the council have examined, with devout attention, the character and claims of the American Education Society, and were unanimous in the opinion that the wide extent and rapid increase of our country in numbers, enterprize, and wealth, have produced a crisis which demands a decided, universal, and concentrated effort to provide religious instruction for the nation, and to avert that ruin of our civil and religious institutions which wealth, coupled with ignorance, irreligion and voluptuousness, cannot fail to produce; that the American Education Society ranks amongst the great benevolent institutions of our land, and is so established in reputation and prospective usefulness, and is so essential to the universal extension of the institutions of religion, as to deserve the best aid which can be obtained for the accomplishment of its purposes. And it was also the united opinion of this council, that Mr. Cornelius has, in the providence of God, become pre-eminently qualified to render this society the assistance which the exigencies of the church require.

"But, on the contrary, this council have not over

looked, or lightly estimated the importance of the Tabernacle church to the interests of religion in this town and vicinity, or the importance of that influence which our brother is qualified to exert as a pastor, as a theologian, and as a man. We have sympathized with the church at the recital of her past trials, and have not been insensible to the affection which binds the pastor to his people, and them to him. We have felt the silent eloquence of tears around us, and have listened to the arguments which wisdom and affection dictated and pressed warm upon our hearts; and when, urged by their powerful public and private claims, in seeming opposition, we have approached a decision, we have recoiled from the responsibleness on either hand. Upon the result to which we have come, we have been brought by the coercion of circumstances, and as we trust by unequivocal indications of the provi dential will of God, uniting, as it seems to us, all the great interests of the church at large, and in a high and unexpected degree, the pastoral and public usefulness of Mr. Cornelius in the town and State. The result is as follows.

"Resolved, that in the judgment of this council, it is the duty of the Rev. Elias Cornelius to accept the appointment of secretary of the American Education Society, on condition that his pastoral relation to his church and people be continued. It is also recommended to the church and society to acquiesce in this arrangement.

"It is understood and recommended by the council in this result, that Mr. Cornelius be wholly released from any obligation to perform pastoral duties, and that the church and society be released from all obligation hereafter to provide any thing for his support the whole ordinary support for the gospel, with all its ordinary perquisites, being reserved for the associate pastor.

"By this result, the family of Mr. Cornelius continues

in the town, and he himself will be here, it is believed, no inconsiderable portion of his time; so that the youth shall behold the eyes of their pastor, and the lambs experience his paternal care, and the sick hear his soothing voice, while the aged, who hoped that he should attend them in their last scenes, may hope still to enjoy even in death this consolation.

"In procuring another pastor, the church and congregation escape the dangers of a vacancy, and avail themselves of the wise and efficient influence of their beloved pastor, in obtaining another like-minded with himself, who shall care for them, and build them up, and to whom his experience and fraternal counsel may be invaluable. We cannot but believe that the pastoral influence which Mr. Cornelius can and will exert here still, added to that of another judicious and growing pastor, will constitute on the whole a greater amount of good influence and prospective usefulness in the Tabernacle church, than could reasonably be expected from the individual labors of Mr. Cornelius alone. And if to this influence be added that of connecting the interests of the American Education Society with this place, and collecting here every month the most important and we trust heart-cheering intelligence, and calling around the pastor some of the most devoted young servants of Christ, and brightest ornaments of the church in the land, we cannot but believe that we have been conducted to a result which satisfies the public demands of the church, and confers on the Tabernacle church an increase on the whole of religious privileges, and upon the town and its vicinity an increase of moral and religious influence.

"But if the prospect were less favorable, we trust that past deliverances in times of much greater difficulty will not be forgotten, and that the ample reward of their past disinterested love in giving to Christ and the church their

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former pastor, will not make them afraid or unwilling to trust their faithful Lord and Master again.

“But whatever, brethren, beloved in the Lord, the consequences of our fallible efforts may be, we trust that our readiness to come, at your request, to consider your affairs and give you advice, and our patient, protracted, and most laborious attention to obtain the mind of Christ, and do you good, will be duly appreciated by you; and that, however our advice may differ from your wishes, it will forfeit neither your affection for us as Christians, nor your confidence in us as honest and conscientious men, acting in the fear of God, and according to the sober dictates of our best judgment.

"And now, brethren, we commend you to Him, who is able to keep you from falling, and to do for you exceeding abundantly, beyond what you or we have been able to ask or to think.'"

Notwithstanding the advice of the council in respect to the nominal continuance of the relation, it was determined to dissolve it entirely. Mr. Cornelius accordingly received a dismission from the church and congregation, and in October, removed to Andover.