man nature is as opposite to God as
darkness to light. That our sin is only bounded by the narrowness of our
capacity. His text was Isa. xli. 14. 18. The mountains &c. He said were
unbelief, pride, covetousness, enmity, &c. &c. &c. This morning I took a
walk for Aunt as far as Mr. Soley's. I called at Mrs Whitwell's & found
the good man & lady both better than when I saw them last. On my return
I found Mr. Hunt on a visit to aunt. After the usual salutations & when
did you hear from your papa &c. I ask'd him if the blessing pronounced
by the minister before the congregation is dismissed, is not a part of
the publick worship? "Yes."

"Why then, do you Sir, say, let us conclude the publick worship by
singing?" "Because singing is the last act in which the whole
congregation is unanimously to join. The minister in Gods name blesses
his i.e. Gods people agreeable to the practice of the apostles, who
generally close the epistles with a benediction in the name of the
Trinity, to which, Amen is subjoined, which, tho' pronounc'd by the
minister, is, or ought to be the sentiment & prayer of the whole
assembly, the meaning whereof is, So be it."

Feb. 18th.--Another ten knot skane of my yarn was reel'd off today.
Aunt says it is very good. My boils & whitloes are growing well apace,
so that I can knit a little in the evening.

Transcribed from the Boston Evening Post:

Sep. 18, 1771. Under the head of London news, you may find that last
Thursday was married at Worcester the Widow Biddle of Wellsburn in the
county of Warwick, to her grandson John Biddle of the same place, aged
twenty three years. It is very remarkable. the widdow had one son & one
daughter; 18 grandchildren & 5 great grandchildren; her present husband
has one daughter, who was her great granddaughter but is now become her
daughter; her other great grandchildren are become her cousins; her
grandchildren her brothers & sisters; her son & daughter her father
& mother. I think! tis the most extraordinary account I ever read in
a News-Paper. It will serve to puzzel Harry Dering with.

[Transcriber's Note:
"I think! tis" may be a typographical error for "I think 'tis".]

Monday Feb. 18th--Bitter cold. I am just come from writing school. Last
Wednesday P.M. while I was at school Aunt Storer called in to see Aunt
Deming in her way to Mr Inches's. She walk'd all that long way. Thursday
last I din'd & spent the afternoon with Aunt Sukey. I attended both my
sc