Awoke this morning to see the first snow this Season. The day was rainy and unpleasant. I attended Divine Service in the morning and heard Mr. Frothingham preach from Luke 9 v. 16 Chapt. “Make to yourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness.” A singular text but a very good one as managed by him. For he illustrated it to mean the proper conduct of life in regard to Riches. First, prudence in the acquisition, second, liberality in the dispensation. The latter including all the Charities of which man should be capable to his fellow men, the former increasing the means, and preventing any resulting injury to its exercise. It was a Charity Sermon as a Collection was made for the Poor immediately afterward. The Attendance was thin from the bad weather.

I returned home immediately and passed my Afternoon very quietly as my Medicine and the Weather made it quite as advisable to remain at home. Read a Sermon of Massillon’s Text Matthew. 21. 12. “And Jesus went into the Temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple.” Upon the true attendance upon the House of God, which should be: 1. in a spirit of Justice and benevolence, 2. in a spirit of humility. Passed an hour afterward in writing a sketch of a Dissertation upon Cicero which I had in my mind though to tell the truth I am not equal to it. Evening quietly at home. Read to my Wife a little and afterwards read a little upon Architecture, and the Spectator.