Rain. Attended divine service as usual, and the rest of the time passed at home.

It does seem as if we could have only one or two dry days at a time. The quantity of humidity in the atmosphere is so overpowering. From noon it rained pretty constantly.

I heard Mr. Lunt preach from the Wisdom of Solomon 1. 6. “For wisdom is a loving spirit,” a sensible discourse upon the connexion of true Wisdom with benevolence, as distinct from selfishness or dishonesty. Also in the Afternoon from Titus 2. 11. 12. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world”.

As I had accidentally sent the volume of the English Preacher to town I took up a volume of Tillotson1 and read a Discourse from Ecclesiastes 9. 10. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.” I like this text and hence read the Sermon. It has been the principle of action with me for many years in the limited sphere in which action has been allowed to me. It is true there 135are to many others ideas of creating work to do which never appeared to my mind within the scope of the text. The hand must find it but must not make it.

Dr. Tillotson considers the text in two points of view as it regards religious benevolence and also the particular calling of the individual, in both of which undoubtedly there is much profit to be found. The great duty of man is the cultivation of the moral affections, then comes the collateral developement of the intellectual powers and the duties of active life. Mr. Degrand was here on a visit to my father until late in the evening.