The morning was misty and wet, with the air cold and chilly. I attended Divine Service alone all day, at Mr. Frothingham’s, and heard 64him deliver two Sermons, the one in the Morning upon the character and sufferings of Christ adapted to the service of the Communion, the other in the afternoon upon the inutility of the many controversies of the day upon abstractions. I agree with him in this, and approved the Sermon much. He stands almost alone in this doctrine however, as the Church here on all sides is rather of a Church militant. And this is probably one reason why as he makes no exciting stir, he makes no proselytes. I do not pretend to influence any man’s opinion but I think it would be desirable on all sides that peace should be the offspring of religious belief, for otherwise it rather hardens than improves bad passions. I read on my return home, Jeremy Taylor’s Exhortation to the Imitation of the Life of Jesus Christ.1 He is a powerful writer of the old school, and his piety and earnestness make a warm style which is at once pleasing and affecting. He is clear withal and lays down rules of moral conduct applicable to human life, which is after all the great end of religion if preachers would but remember it. I read also Walpole’s Castle of Otranto which I have long ago read, and I confess was better pleased with it from memory than from the re-perusal.2 In the evening continued reading Clarissa Harlowe to Abby, and finished the Gospels.