Morning quite fine. Read some of Madame de Stael’s fine theory of perfectability not a particle of which do I believe in. Attended divine service and heard Mr. Sargent preach all day. Psalms 126. 5 “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” Philippians 4. 5. “Let your moderation be known unto all men.” The latter Sermon of these two was very clear in its simple way, but Mr. Sargent will not be likely to astound the world.

Read a discourse of Atterbury being No. 2 on the subject touched upon last Sunday, and following up the concluding point of that discourse, or in other words justifying the obscurity in the hard passages of the Testaments. This is a valuable subject and I think he treats it clearly.

Dr. Swan and Mr. Jonathan Brooks two Medford gentlemen took tea and passed the evening.1 A sharp thunder storm towards midnight. I could not help moralizing a little when I was in the Meeting house today for it is some time since I was there and things look changed.