Morning cold. I amused myself with reading Coleridge’s Table Talk.1 It does not appear to me to equal his reputation. There is a 273constant seeking after unseekable things that betrays the visionary but not the first rate mind. He wants the healthy tone which is visible in all the conversation I have seen of Mackintosh.

Attended divine service and heard a Sermon from Mr. Frothingham upon the Advent, as an Anniversary. Matthew 21. 5. “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek.” He is fond of taking some notice of these days as occasions for Sermons although not attaching to them the same sentiments which made them objectionable with the Roman Catholics. But the extremes of opinion always meet. The Unitarian who has gone far beyond the Puritan’s utmost verge, yet comes back to the Catholic fancy which was one of the causes of the first division.

Owing to an accident, I was late to the afternoon service. Mr. Frothingham’s discourse was however upon the parable of the talents, which I believe I had heard already. Read a discourse of Barrow upon the necessity of Industry. Eccles. 9. 10. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.” An excellent sermon. He considers the objects to be secured by it, health, wealth and honor, but above all virtue. I must look back to this discourse. Evening, went down to Mr. Brooks with my Wife and passed a couple of hours.