ad^m Harris, Mrs Mason and Miss Polly
Vans[47] there, they all give their love to you--Last evening I went to
catechizing with Aunt. Our ministers have agreed during the long
evenings to discourse upon the questions or some of 'em in the
assembly's shorter catechism, taking 'em in their order at the house of
Mrs Rogers in School Street, every wednesday evening. Mr. Hunt began
with the first question and shew'd what it is to glorify GOD. Mr Bacon
then took the second, what rule &c. which he has spent three evenings
upon, & now finished. Mr Hunt having taken his turn to show what the
Scriptures principly teach, & what is GOD. I remember he said that there
was nothing properly done without a rule, & he said that the rule God
had given us to glorify him by was the bible. How miraculously (said he)
has God preserv'd this blessed book. It was once in the reign of a
heathen emperor condemn'd to be burnt, at which time it was death to
have a bible & conceal it, but God's providence was wonderful in
preserving it when so much human policy had been exerted to bury it in
Oblivion--but for all that, here we have it as pure & uncorrupted as
ever--many books of human composure have had much pains taken to
preserve 'em, notwithstanding they are buried in Oblivion. He considered
who was the author of the bible, he prov'd that GOD was the author, for
no _good_ man could be the author, because such a one would not be
guilty of imposition, & an evil man could not unless we suppose a house
divided against itself. he said a great deal more to prove the bible is
certainly the word of God from the matter it contains &c, but the best
evidence of the truth of divine revelation, every true believer has in
his own heart. This he said, the natural man had no idea of. I did not
understand all he said about the external and internal evidence, but
this I can say, that I understand him better than any body else that
I hear preach. Aunt has been down stairs all the time I have been
recolecting & writeing this. Therefore, all this of own head, of
consequence.

Valentine day.[48]--My cousin Sally reeled off a 10 knot skane of yarn
today. My valentine was an old country plow-joger. The yarn was of my
spinning. Aunt says it will do for filling. Aunt also says niece is a
whimsical child.

Feb. 17.--Since Wednesday evening, I have not been abroad since
yesterday afternoon. I went to meeting & back in Mr. Soley's chaise. Mr.
Hunt preached. He said that hu