My ground opens to me very rich. I am exceedingly busy in exploring it. The authorities are numerous and imposing and if I fail it must be from my own incapacity to execute.

I attended Divine service all day and heard in the morning a Mr. 158Damon of West Cambridge1 from Philippians 4. 8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This was a discourse upon the value of virtue to man in itself alone, and the inducements to man to pursue it from the effects it operates upon his own character. He discussed the ordinary maxim “Honesty is the best policy” and laid down in familiar but strong language the prevailing maxims of ordinary life. In some passages particularly towards the close I thought his flight was quite extraordinary. On the whole I was pleased. Afternoon Mr. J. D. Green,2 John 19. 30. “It is finished.” The moral of closing life with nothing new or remarkable to compensate for a bad manner.

Afterwards a Sermon of Dr. Barrow. Hebrews 10. 24. “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good work.” A continuation of the discourse of last Sunday upon Charity, its acts and objects, and very good. I worked hard “scribbling” the rest of the day.

No news but of the death at the Springs of Dr. J. G. Stevenson. He has been my family physician ever since my marriage and in him my Wife had great confidence. I felt shocked at this sudden notice of the close of his career which seemed to be just beginning, but there was nothing extraordinary in it, the lot of all mortality.