The air changed in the night and gave us a cold Easterly morning. I went to Meeting as usual after spending half an hour upon Loudon’s Encyclopedia. Mr. Putnam of Roxbury preached. Luke 16. 10. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Mr. Walsh with whom I walked was dissatisfied with the discourse and complained of a gross deficiency in it of moral discrimination. It was so clearly. Mr. Putnam did not take the words in the right sense, not as an argument a priori, but as a levelling of all degrees of error. He reduced the whole to a performance of duty. This is various, one man 393performs his duty in small things while another neglects them. The inference however from the conduct of these would seem to be that the first would be more likely to do his duty in great matters than the last. Mr. Putnam is young and writes without distinguishing. Afternoon, his discourse was better, from Job 7. 16. “I would not live alway.”

In the afternoon, read a discourse of Dr. Barrow intended for Christmas day. Luke 2. 10. “And the angel said unto them. Fear not, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” The causes of rejoicing at the nativity of a Saviour—A very good discourse. Afterwards, I read a little of Ariosto. Evening at home, I read Swift.