Cool and pleasant day. I was engaged in the morning upon my coins until service time. Heard Mr. Frothingham from 2 Esdras 1. 27. “Ye have not as it were forsake me but your own selves, saith the Lord.” The necessity of self control, of governing the passions, but I was drowsy and did not listen well. Afternoon Mr. Emerson from the 139 Psalm 14. “I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” A curious Essay upon the creation of man, to physically, but intellectually, drawn up with great ingenuity and considerable force. The point mainly to draw away the minds of the active classes from the pursuit of wealth as the end of all things and fix them upon 181the cultivation of reason. Alas! Alas! the world is six thousand years old and reason has been made an idol only to be trampled into the mud of gold and silver.

I went home and read a Sermon of Barrow upon the passion of Christ. Philippians 2. 8. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” There was a good deal concerning the doctrine of the Atonement which I cannot say I was perfectly master of. I am somewhat given to imitating Coleridge in his plan upon the obscurities of Plato. I decline to judge of things beyond my comprehension. The remainder of the Discourse devoted to considering the causes for so ignominious a sacrifice was very good and the close powerful.

Evening quiet at home. I worked upon No. 8 hewing out the rough block. As this is my last piece of labour, the Bridgewater paper having declined giving battle, I mean to try and polish it finely. It is a little remarkable how much superior is the typography of “We the People.”