Fine day but growing warmer. I read this morning Mad. Deffand and Pinkerton whose book is a curious mass of dogmatical accuracy. Attended divine service and heard a young man, H. G. O. Phipps preach.1 He is the son of the late Dr. Phipps of this Parish and therefore excited a good deal of interest. His sermons were from John 16. 32. “Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me.” And from Romans 6.23. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” His divisions are sensible and his substance good. Young preachers have perhaps the greatest trial of all. They are tested most heavily before the mind is formed.

At home read a discourse of Dr. Barrow perhaps the most eloquent of any, from 1. John 2. 6. “He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk as he walked.” On the general topic of imitation and the effect of example, with some very forcible thoughts, especially in connection with the characters of the Old Testament.

The afternoon was quite warm. Evening Mr. Price Greenleaf and Josiah Quincy. The latter asked me to go with him to the White hills on Tuesday, which I declined.