The wind was so high from the North east as to present no very favorable prospect for the departure tomorrow. I attended divine service and heard Mr. White of Dedham from Job 21. 15. “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him?” The frequent devotion to worldly interests in the performance of religious duties is perhaps one of the best topics for this meridian, where no doubt habit does much and the opinion of the world more. Yet Mr. White’s view of it is correct, that it is productive of many benefits incidentally arising which perhaps more than compensate for the evils.

Afternoon, 2. Corinthians 6. 1. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” I was not so attentive as I should have been from the difficulty of avoiding drowsiness now that the hour is so altered as to prevent a nap.

Read a discourse of Sterne from two Texts Romans 2. 4. and Ecclesiastes 8. 11 which he throws out in the following quaint way. “Take either as you like it, you will get nothing by the bargain.” The causes of the corruption of the world, and the general inattention to all warnings. Alas! there is truth in all this, but if virtue was not difficult to practise, where would be the merit of it? If vice was unattractive, where would be the risk of avoiding it? Mr. Beale and his daughters and son came in and passed a couple of hours.