Mist in the morning and hard rain at night. I attended divine service throughout the day notwithstanding. Mr. Frothingham preached. Morning from 1. Peter 2. 16. “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” A discussion of true liberty with a general view of the effect of the Reformation in giving it a true signification. I am sorry I did not follow a sensible sermon more closely. Afternoon from Colossians 3. 15. “Be ye thankful” upon Gratitude as a social, a domestic and a Religious duty. One thing I have to reproach myself with, the allowing of unsuitable thoughts in the house of God. Why it is, I do not know, but it seems to me as if I no sooner was seated, than my mind begins to run upon some view of the subject of Masonry, or my temporal affairs, or any thing in short but what is before me. This must be corrected.

Read a Sermon upon the Story of the penitent female, from Luke 7. 37 and following verses, by Massillon. The text is too long, as it 416includes in fact much of the Chapter, for me to quote it. Subject. Repentance. Division, 1st the common idea that repentance is barren — not true, for it must be followed by reparation, 2d that it is bitter — not true, for it brings with it, its own peculiar consolation. Many of the Sermons of Massillon are not only repetitious in their parts, but also of each other. This however must necessarily be the case, where a man writes and preaches much.

Evening quietly at home. Read more of Malvina but as my Wife was writing Letters, I began Ruffhead’s Life of Pope.1 Afterwards, more of Lessing’s Fables which I understand much better.

We heard today of the extraordinary result of a marriage intended to have taken place at Andover. My old acquaintance and my Wife’s Relation, Elizabeth Phillips, was jilted on her wedding evening, when she was dressed for the Ceremony. “There’s many a slip” &ca.2

A beautiful morning. Instead of any appearance of this month, I should suppose it was hardly more than October. At the office, I read a little of Lingard but was out most of my time. Went to the Athenaeum where I looked over the Newspapers and an article in the Edinburgh Review which I found pretty tedious. On the whole, my time was wasted. Mr. Tenney, my Tenant called in to pay his rent. He looks 417emaciated, says he believes he has had the Cholera. Came to talk about the renewal of a Lease of his House. Postponed it until May next.

I took my usual walk, and my spirits felt bright and lively —The action of the fine day being altogether invigorating. I felt as if it was to be a lucky day to me without my knowing or being able to assign any cause therefor. It passed off without my being sensible of it’s having proved so. The feeling however was a buoyant one. And as I do not feel particularly anxious about my luck or rather what I would call in my graver moments by a more serious name, I was thankful for the momentary elasticity which it occasioned, without looking any farther.

Afternoon. Began upon Anti Masonry No. 8, but was stopped by want of information. The whole of the time was taken up in digesting materials. Evening, quiet as usual. Malvina and the Life of Flaxman. Afterwards, finished the Fables of Lessing in the German Reader.