Cold but a very fine day. Spent an hour in looking over the Memoirs of the Princess de Lamballe, that ill fated woman who perished so horribly in the massacre of the French Revolution.1 This subject hardly ever tires, but I have seen most of these stories already in some other shape.

Attended divine service all day and heard Mr. Putnam of Roxbury. Luke. 11. 34–5–6. “The light of the body is the eye, therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body is full of light &ca.” A healthy state of mind which through the influence of religion regards even the evils of this world as benefits and designed for the exercise of virtues which fit us for the next. 12 Romans 11. “Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” The occupations of man lead him very properly to feel an intense interest in his worldly affairs, but the excess is to be regulated by the check of religious feeling. This is one of the best topics for a money getting, money loving community like our’s. They have perpetual need of some weekly voice which shall say to them, “hoard not too much” and yet how many there are under my eye who will not heed the voice of that charmer charm he never 316so wisely. Hence the holy horrors of war which put a stop to the profits of trade.

Home, read a discourse of Barrow, a continuation of the same subject of obedience to spiritual authority. Having defined the nature of obedience, he goes on to reply to what may be urged as hindrances to it in the nature of the punishment and extent of the compulsion with some general views at the close. These discourses are not of particular interest. Evening, I went out and called upon Mrs. Dexter with my Wife, but she not being at home we went to see Edward Brooks. His Wife was upstairs. Home at ten.