Fine day though cloudy and warm. My Wife looked better than she has yet done. Her colour begins to revive. The child is well and hearty. I begin to realize a new state of feeling—One which will, I hope, turn my attention more to my duties as a man and a citizen. The continuance of the family in a male branch renders it more necessary for me not only to support myself by prudence but to guide to the utmost of my feeble abilities the course of the future successors. May God in his mercy look with favor upon my efforts.

I attended divine service all day. Heard Mr. Frothingham. John 7. 17. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.” Upon the liberty of construction often taken without proper attention to the obliga-181tions imposed by positive injunction. Matthew 6. 30. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” A beautiful text and a beautifully written discourse, upon the truth of the figure alluded to as well as the reliance upon Providence which it inculcates. For myself I become every day more and more satisfied of the fact. In the storms as in the sunshine of life there is nothing for man to look to but the support of a divine being. I have sometimes thought Mr. Frothingham not willing to go far enough in this notion.

Read a Sermon of Massillon upon the choice of a Religious profession by a Nun. Text from Psalms 17. 17–20, or according to our version which is in many places differently divided from that of the Septuagint. 18. 16–19. “The Lord sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He brought me forth also into a large place, he delivered me because he delighted in me.” His division was threefold although he managed to accomplish but two parts of it. He considered her as obtaining the part of election and of preservation. She had been elected from the earliest time for heaven, and preserved from the dangers of the world. Her consecration, the third head, was omitted. I cannot adopt the idea of election, because it involves the monstrous extreme on the other side. Nor can I admit the duty of Monastic seclusion in any of God’s creatures. There is something fascinating in the idea but not consistent with the purposes of man so far as we understand them. Quiet evening.

I make it a point as far as I can to avoid any share in the political agitations of the day. But I cannot help feeling the harshness with which my father is treated by most of the Masonic party. It is far beyond any thing he experienced while engaged in the canvass for the Presidency. The National Republican party has quailed under the threats of this portion of it and will proceed to make an independent nomination with almost the certainty of failure.1 My own judgment has always led me to condemn his return to public life, especially as I foresaw these evils. Yet in itself as avoiding the situation I have no regret that things should result in this manner. My only wish now is that his own friends will not desert him, and leave him in a small minority. If he can come out as the first with a plurality, it will save him much mortification and perhaps in the end serve the cause.

My Wife sat up a few minutes today. At the Office engaged in Ac-182counts as tomorrow is Quarter day. Drew up my Quarterly statement and my own books, which took up most of my time. Called to see Mr. Clark and went to the Athenaeum. Afternoon, reading My grandfather’s letters, and Voltaire with d’Alembert. Evening, Shakespeare’s Henry 4th. 1st. part. I waste my time in little things.