Cloudy day with heavy rain at times. Morning divided between study and a search after papers at my father’s. Afternoon study, evening at the Mansion.

Locke, finished the first volume of the Works which closes with the meaning of words. My mind has certainly been invigorated by the study of this Analytical Treatise. Much of my time was however wasted in trying to find materials for a composition which I now design. Whether I shall have either the ability or the perseverance to bring out what I propose I do not know but the attempt is at least an amusement. I did not succeed at any rate today and must therefore put it off until I go to Boston.

Lucretius through the fourth book and ninety lines of the 5th. The former is hardly philosophical and certainly very coarse. Read also some of Grimm who is amusing in spite of his ridiculous prejudices. 118My boy John continues unwell and in consequence of the sickness prevailing we feel uneasy about him. Evening at the Mansion.

Morning study. Attendance upon divine service all day. Reading in the Afternoon and evening at the Mansion.

I read today several chapters of Milman’s History of the Jews with which I am much pleased. He gives a clear abridged view of the Exodus of the Israelites which I never before perfectly understood.

Mr. Lunt preached today from Matthew 28. 19. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost.” A discourse upon baptism apparently occasioned by the incident of last Sunday, with an attempt to explain the text of the three persons—the Father, God the son, the mediator and the holy Ghost the spirit universally present and active upon man. I did not feel satisfied with this explanation, nor with any I have ever seen.

2. Peter 1. 7. “To godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.” This was a fine continuation of the last Sunday afternoon’s discourse, with a view of the improvement of the general principles of action in man, the increase of benevolence notwithstanding the dangerous radical tendencies of the day.

Read a sermon in the English Preacher by the Revd. Jas. Foster, Romans 5. 7. “Scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet, peradventure, for a good man some would even dare to die.” This is a better sermon than the generality of these. It marks the broad line between mere justice which is so much a duty as to be hardly a virtue and that extended goodness which seeks out the opportunities for the exercise of benevolent disposition. But even in this, there is room for the employment of great judgment and discrimination. The evening was passed in conversation and on our return we could not but be struck with the beautiful clearness of the sky.