Morning cloudy, and heavy rain from the South, throughout the day. I attended Divine Service throughout the day and heard Dr. Lowell of Boston preach. His morning Discourse was from 2. Timothy 1.5. “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy Grandmother and thy Mother; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” It was written with great pathos. The subject the relative duties of Parents, especially Mothers, and Children. The ideas were few and simple, but the management of them was very well calculated for the principal end of preaching, effect upon the people. The Clergyman dined with us. Afternoon. His Sermon was from Colossians 3.3. “For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” The nature of Piety, and its influence. I thought it much less interesting.

Read a Sermon of Massillon’s upon the benediction of the Standards of the Regiment of Catinat. Text from Psalms. 73 by the Vulgate and 74 in the English Translation. Verses 4 and 5, but the text is so imperfectly translated that I shall not try to insert it. The purpose seemed to be an exhortation to piety, to the abandonment of the usual desires which engross the mind of a warrior. It must have been an affecting discourse, as it was bold.

Evening. Quiet at home. Read Lord Bacon on Gardening. In the evening from the North American Review and the Spectator.