A lovely day as I have ever seen at this season of the year. We attended divine service all day and heard Mr. Frothingham. Matthew 22. 39. “The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” An examination of this passage which condenses the whole 256of theology into Love of the Creator and the created, which gives little that is new but thoroughly refines and purifies the old.

Luke 12. 16–22. The parable of the rich man accummulating his gains, the question, what his offence? not his wealth, not his industry, but his presumption, in imagining that he was the director and ruler of all his prosperity. Adam Smith has much to say upon the subject of Fortune. Plutarch tells us Sylla relied much upon his Fortune. We know Julius Caesar’s speech to the Boatman. Lord Bacon says it is productive of failure to attribute events too much to one’s own agency. Addison has remarked the frequency with which acts you anticipate as certain will not happen. Why are not all these manifestations of the same presumption which cost the rich man in the parable his life? I believe in my fortune, or in other words in the divine care of a superintending Providence, which has done for me what my own agency never could have brought about.

Read a Sermon of Atterbury. Matthew 25. 40. “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” He considers first how it is that acts of mercy are decided to rank first at the day of judgment. Secondly, why, when done to the poor they are said to be done to the Saviour himself. A charity Sermon, but it is not filled out at all. Evening, Mr. and Miss Beale called in and passed an hour. She looks quite sick.

Another delightful day. I went to the Office. Engaged as usual in making up my arrears, which is about the only occupation of my morning. I lounge away too much time at the Post Office reading the Newspapers. I do nothing and ought to be ashamed. The money pressure still continues, and the accounts from Washington are that it will not cease. The Administration party is determined to do nothing. Heaven help us.

Took a long walk, invited by the beauty of the day. Afternoon reading Stewart Essay on the cause of beauty,1 and the Andria. Afterwards I went to the Boylston Market to attend the annual Proprietor’s meeting. Nothing done but the election of Officers and the usual organization for the year. I tried to vacate my post but did not succeed. Afterwards, I went to Mrs. Frothingham’s, where she had a party of children, it being her eldest son Thomas’ birth day. A few grown persons of the family, but it was very fatiguing. Returned home by ten o’clock.