. vii. 4, 5, 6, 7. He said, that if we did
not mean as we said in pray's it was only a compliment put upon God,
which was a high affront to his divine Majesty. Mr Bacon, P.M. from
James v. 17. He said, "pray's, effectual & fervent, might be, where
there were no words, but there might be elegant words where there is no
prayr's. The essence of pray's consists in offering up holy desires to
God agreeable to his will,--it is the flowing out of gracious
affections--what then are the pray'rs of an unrenewed heart that is full
of enmity to God? doubtless they are an abomination to him. What then,
must not unregenerate men pray? I answer, it is their duty to breathe
out holy desires to God in pray's. Prayer is a natural duty. Hannah
pour'd out her soul before the Lord, yet her voice was not heard, only
her lips moved. Some grieve and complain that their pray's are not
answered, but if _thy will be done is_, as it ought to be, in every
prayer; their prayers are answer'd."

The wind was high at N.E. all day yesterday, but nothing fell from the
dark clouds that overspread the heavens, till 8 o'clock last evening,
when a snow began which has continued falling ever since. The bell being
now ringing for 1 o'clock P.M. & no sign of abatement.

My aunt Deming says, that if my memory had been equal to the memory of
some of my ancestors, I might have done better justice to Mr. Bacon's
good sermon, & that if hers had been better than mine she would have
helped me. Mr Bacon _did_ say what is here recorded, but in other
method.

April 6.--I made a shift to walk to meeting yesterday morning. But there
was so much water in the streets when I came home from meeting that I
got a seat in Mr Waleses chaise. My aunt walk'd home & she sais thro'
more difaculty than ever she did in her life before. Indeed had the
stream get up from our meeting house as it did down, we might have taken
boat as we have talk'd some times of doing to cross the street to our
oposite neighbor _Soley's_ chaise. I remember some of Mr Hunts sermon,
how much will appear in my text journal.

April 7.--I visited yesterday P.M. with my aunt at Mr Waldron's. This
afternoon I am going with my aunt to visit Mrs Salisbury who is Dr
Sewall's granddaughter, I expect Miss Patty Waldow will meet me there.
It is but a little way & we can now thro' favour cross the street
without the help of a boat. I saw Miss Polly Vans this morning. She
gives her love to you. As she always does