Pleasant day. Divine Service. Evening at Mr. Brooks’.

After an hour devoted to the instruction of my children I attended divine service and heard Dr. Parkman preach from Ecclesiastes 7. 10. “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.” Upon the comparative value of ancient and modern habits and morals, and the prevailing tendency to see in the past, merits which are not in the present. The fault of our age is rather in the opposite extreme.

Afternoon 1. Corinthians 9. 22. “I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” A very sensible discourse by Dr. Frothingham upon that phrase which taken from Saint Paul’s application to himself is now usually made a word of reproach. There is discrimination to be exercised here as every where. The adaptation of one’s self to others is to be judged of by the impelling motives which are at the bottom of all conduct.

Read a Sermon by Dr. Foster in the English Preacher 1. Peter 2. 21 375“Leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps.” The example of Christ as a moral and practical lesson to mankind. Walk with the children.

Evening, we went to Mr. Brooks’ and spent an hour very pleasantly. Nobody there but H. G. Gorham. Home where I finished my new sheet and read over the whole being much dissatisfied, feel tempted to write over or throw off.

Charming day. Office, division as usual. Evening at Mrs. Everetts.

After my hour in coins, I went to the Office. Occupied in Accounts. Letter from the Salem Lyceum requesting me to deliver my Lecture Wednesday. I wrote back that I never delivered it excepting upon particular request.1 Home. Read Antigone. Afternoon, Sharon Turner. Reading my Article over very critically.

Evening we went to Mr. Everett’s for the purpose of hearing him read his Lecture on the opening of the Lowell Institute.2 But he had accidentally been unable to recover it from a person who had borrowed it. He read however several letters and part of the Diary of Mr. Lowell. There were several ladies present. Mrs. Henshaw and her daughter, Mrs. Frothingham and Thomas, Miss Welsh and ourselves. Evening pleasant enough and home at ten.

Lovely day. Division as usual. Evening company at home.

After coins, at the Office. Received another application from Salem for the delivery of the Lecture tomorrow night, to which I consented. So I must even go. My inducement is only to get some money. Finished drafting account for the Quarter.

Home where I read Antigone, which I find I studied pretty thoroughly before. Afternoon, revised my Article for the last time. Too lazy to write any thing better and yet much dissatisfied with this. Never mind. Do better next time.1 Evening, Sidney Brooks and his Wife to tea and Dr. and Mrs. Frothingham in the evening. Pleasant hour.