Cloudy but warm. Exercises as usual. Evening at the Mansion.

I devoted my usual time to my daughter Louisa and read some Chapters of Tucker’s Light of Nature. This Author has been much admired for his easy familiar way of illustrating metaphysical truths, but it seems to me that he is feeble.

Attended divine service all day and heard Dr. Lamson of Dedham preach from Matthew 20. 22. “Ye know not what ye ask.” A poetical discourse upon the unreasonableness of human wishes very much in the allegory of the old school, and also Matthew 25. 21. “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I 254will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

I also read a sensible discourse by the Revd. John Holland upon the duty of attendance at public worship. Hebrews 10. 25. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” Man is so much the creature of habit that he becomes religious as often from the performance of external rites as from internal reflection. And the satisfaction of duty performed grows upon one as time goes on. Read some of Le Comte, Account of China. Evening at the Mansion.