the beloved name of Payson! In the latter instance, exempli more particularly the character of piety, and not any strong bent of the mind connected with it, we acknowledge, that t may be more uncertainty respecting the event; since the wide perience of life, and the temptations of different situations, o bining with the power of in-dwelling sin, might have shaken a apparently so firm in the beginning.

These remarks have been made for the sake of science, nevolence, and religion,-interests, which are somewhat involve the prolongation of life, in certain instances. They show, the is an object not unworthy of care. It is true, that divine Pr dence, upon the early fall of one, often raises up another to his place in an important department of his spiritual kingdom that, perhaps, an equal amount of benevolent or pious exertion in this way, from time to time put forth. But upon the supp tion, that those gifted individuals, whose efforts are so effective a abundant, were long continued in the world, and other like spirits, there might be, kindled with the same holy enthusiasm, should lat with them in protracted cotemporaneous life, how multiplied wo be the amount of good produced! How rapid would be the p gression of benevolent or religious action! Prolonged life, in su a view, is truly important; and proper care should be taken, that may, if possible, be realized, and its energies thus exerted to t greatest extent. If, while such care is bestowed, God, by b providence, removes at an early date the instruments of his bles ings, we shall find it to be a fit occasion for the exercise of sul mission to his will, ignorant as we may be of its reasons.

Our observations on this subject, if they are not strictly applica ble to the case of the esteemed individual, whom the memo named at the head of this article, brings to our notice, yet are sug gested by cases apparently similar to his. Mr. Cornelius diec somewhat young; but had it been consistent with the arrange ments of divine wisdom, it would have gratified the heart o piety, had he been spared long, to perform the duties of the station which he occupied in the church. The amount of good done by him on earth, might have been vastly augmented in this event. He seems to have been influenced by a conviction of this truth, in the remarks made on his dying bed, to his physician, when the latter was first called: "It has been said," observed Mr. Cornelius, "that it is better to wear out than to rust out. It has not been my design to throw away my life. I do not know but in my ardor I may have been imprudent. *** I wish to live so long as God has employment for me; therefore I wish you to visit me three times a day, and to invite others as you think proper, that my friends and the public may be satisfied. I wish that every means may be used for my recovery, and the event I cheerfully leave with God.”

Thinking, no doubt, of his exhausting efforts, something like a Ruspicion may have flitted across his mind, that he had needlessly exposed his health and life. We do not suppose, that in the least he designed to throw away his life, or that it was in effect thrown away. The spirit of ardor and enterprise which he manifated in a holy cause, was his commendation. Had he, however, with such a calculation as might have been made of the effects of exposure, while he was suffering under pain and debility, used somewhat more caution in the incipient stage of his disease, and ceased for a time to travel the country, and officiate at meetings, his days might have been greatly lengthened out. Bat, with the previous enjoyment of health, the pressure of numerous engagements, and a strong desire to do all that can be done for an interest to which one is devoted, we can readily conceive how difficult it must be, to observe the exact limits where caution ends and imprudence begins, where it is a duty to put forth efforts, and a crime not to omit or suspend them. We subscribe, though in a qualified sense, to the remark which Mr. Cornelius also quoted, at the period above referred to, viz., that "man is immortal as long as God has any thing for him to do." But a part of what God requires him to do, is to take a prudent care of his life; and this, though it cannot insure a literal immortality, is the only divinely appointed means of realizing the immortality which the adage implies. A man is not immortal, if he neglect his health, whatever God has for him to do. The frequent, the almost daily frustration of the hopes of the American church, in the premature removal of some of her most promising ministers, missionaries, or agents, justify us, we cannot but think, in simply adverting to the importance of cherishing, by all lawful means, the life on which so much depends. If, hitherto, too much has been laid upon these men at the outset, or a process of training them, favorable to vigorous health, has been adopted, or habits are still indulged, that, uncalled for, tend to shorten life; a change in these respects should take place,—the proper correctives should be applied. Let every servant of Christ in the gospel, or every one appointed to an important trust, feel, that life is a talent to be kept and improved as may be, like other talents, and as that indeed, without which all others are of no avail. If a suggestion of this kind be disregarded while in the vigor and joyousness of health, the delinquent may be fearfully reminded of its importance, when it has become too late to remedy the evil,-when a diseased body and racking pains, if not depressed spirits, and the prospect of a speedy dissolution, will cause him to feel how little is probably left with which he may, on earth, actively honor God, in advancing his kingdom.

Mr. Cornelius fell, indeed, an early martyr to the cause in which

he had embarked. He had not reached his meridian. Bu executed much. He has produced a deep impression. He presented a bright example before all, especially before young men of our country, which, combined with his precepts labors, has probably allured many on, and will allure m to a career of christian benevolence. In the light of the exce volume which has been put forth by Mr. Edwards, his biograp we wish to look briefly at the leading incidents of his life, and traits of his character, to deduce, as we are able, what may profitable to our readers and ourselves.

Somers, in the county of West-Chester, New-York, was place of Mr. Cornelius' birth, which occurred on the 30th July, 1794. As he was blessed with pious parents, he was giously educated; and we need only mention this fact, to fores the remark, that he was eventually converted unto God. I true, as in many other cases, a considerable number of years el sed before this important change took place. He had alm indeed, reached his manhood; but it may be recorded as a p cious testimony to the efficacy of prayer and instruction, and the grace of a covenant-keeping God, that they sometimes h their subject, so to speak, in abeyance, even to a long peri It is not usually until after repeated acts of transgression, and pr longed disregard of the voice of conscience, that the influence early discipline ceases to be felt. Perhaps that influence new altogether ceases to be felt on this side of the grave. The ear youth of Mr. Cornelius was distinguished principally by his a tivity, playfulness, and love of social enjoyments. He was entirely devoid of seriousness at times, but it was not until he ha reached his twentieth year, that his heart was affectionately turne unto his Maker and Redeemer. In 1813, a revival of religio took place in Yale College, of which he was a member, then the senior class, and he became one of its first and happy subjects A part of the account given in the memoir respecting this inter esting occurrence, is introduced below.

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In the month of March, about six or seven weeks after the commencement of his religious impressions, he found peace in submission to Christ 'One day," remarks a fellow-student, "he knocked at my door. On opening it, his countenance told me that the contest was over. The storm had passed away. It was as the clear shining after rain.' He re quested me to walk with him. We were silent until we had proceeded some distance from college. My own emotions were such, that I had no disposition to speak. He was musing, and the fire burned. When we had come to a retired place, unable longer to restrain his feelings, he raised his hands, and exclaimed, 'O! sweet submission, sweet submission!' This expression he repeated many times during our walk. That he was in the hands of God, was his theme, and the rejoicing of his heart.

He expressed no hope of pardon. He appeared not to think of himself. The glorious Being, to whose character, law, and government, he had felt so much opposition, seemed to occupy the whole field of vision, and to fill has soul with inexpressible delight. Soon he spoke of the plan of salvation through the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God. It was unfolded in its gory, and excited his most grateful admiration. He saw how God wuld be just, and justify him that believeth in Jesus.' 'Believing, he reoiced in hope of the glory of God.' Pressed with a sense of his obligatoas to redeeming grace, his fervent aspiration seemed to be, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' The love of Christ, shed abroad in bis heart, immediately manifested itself in vigorous, self-denying efforts for the salvation of his fellow-men.' pp. 23, 24.

His intellectual history while in college, is marked by proficiency in several of the branches of natural science, while it is not known that he was particularly deficient in any of the studies pursued in the institution. He, however, himself regretted in after life, that he had not made greater progress in some other parts of learning, such as the languages and mathematics, which, as they "cultivate the powers of meditative thought and inward reflection," are quite as important as the studies of natural history.

Mr. C. soon after his graduation, commenced the study of theology, under the direction of president Dwight. Some of his letters, written at this period, show that he maintained, in a good degree, the spirituality of mind, and the consistency of deportment, which should characterize every convert to the holy religion of the gospel. His benevolent feelings, especially his tender sympathies in behalf of the Indians of this land, seem, from a passage or two in these letters, to have been early elicited. While he resided in New-Haven, in the winter of 1814, and in the following spring, a revival of religion was experienced in college,—a circumstance which still further brought into view and nourished that spirit of active and disinterested benevolence, which then and afterwards effected so much, for the cause of God and human happiness. The part which he acted in this revival, was indeed of the most important character; and the interest which he felt, and the plans which he laid, in reference to the prosperity of religion in colleges generally, entitle him, and several kindred spirits of that period, to the lasting gratitude of the friends of learning and piety. He was engaged soon after, in other interesting revival scenes, and with an unwearied spirit, and in various labors, sought to do good, wherever the providence of God gave him an opportunity. His biographer, near the commencement of the account of Mr. Cornelius' course of benevolent action, presents the following statement:

'Many readers of these pages will be filled with admiration, we VOL. VI.

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doubt not, at the extraordinary activity which Mr. Cornelius manifested, from the first, in the service of his divine Master. "He could not but speak the things which he had seen and heard." The whole current of his soul was turned into one channel-the conversion of all mankind to Christ. For twenty years he pursued this object with undeviating purpose. The vacations, which other students spent in amusement, or in simple relaxation from study, were to him harvest seasons, in which souls were gathered for Christ. In one of these vacations, he succeeded in forming a temperance society, on the principle, and with the formal pledge, of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirits. This was as early as 1814-15, a period when the deluge of intemperance was at its height, and when the friends of good order were trying to arrest its ravages, by inducing men to report every year how much ardent spirits had been consumed in their families! The association, which Mr. Cornelius was instrumental in forming, was highly useful. During another of these vacations, he surveyed the whole country between the Hudson river and the State of Connecticut, for the purpose of ascer taining its moral condition. At a later day, and near the time of the formation of the American Bible Society, he succeeded in establishing, amidst much obloquy and opposition, an auxiliary association in Putnam county, New York.' pp. 38, 39.

About this time, in conjunction with S. J. Mills, "of blessed memory," he commenced that train of measures for the christian instruction of several heathen youth, providentially cast upon our shores, which eventuated in the establishment of the Foreign Mission School, at Cornwall, Conn. In this object it is evident that he felt deeply concerned, both before and after the dissolution of his connection with the theological school of president Dwight, which occurred in the autumn of 1815. His biographer thinks the evidence decisive, that to him, as much as to any other man, the deep interest which was manifested in respect to the institu tion at Cornwall, is to be attributed. A few subsequent months appear to have been spent by Mr. C. very profitably to himself and to others, at Litchfield, with the Rev. Dr. Beecher, in the continued prosecution of theological studies.

The subject of our notice, after completing his preparatory course, which Mr. Edwards judiciously suggests to have been somewhat less exact and vigorous than it should have been, was licensed about the middle of the year 1816, to preach the gospel. Few young men in our country have entered on this profession with greater prospects of success, than those which attended Mr. C. at this juncture. Abating the circumstance just alluded to, (and that deficiency was, in a measure, supplied afterwards,) it was acknowledged, that his native endowments were of the highest order. Active, practical, deeply imbued with the spirit of christianity, he went forth to the duties of his calling, with a hearty determination to do good to the bodies and to the souls of men.