Sunday July 24.
The month is coming to a close. Next month!— They are all gone to church. I did not feel happy enough to mix with the many who are going there; and Mr. Dean’s preaching is not worth disturbing one’s feelings, that it may be listened to. But I may as well have listened to it, as have read Dr. Wheatley’s Essays on Cowper Newton Heber &c[1]—& far better. Dr. Wheatly disbelieves in the total corruption of human nature, & in the regenerating influence of divine grace; and yet Mrs. Martin admires & lent me his book,—& I have nearly read it thro’!! which I believe is neither to her credit nor to mine. Paul called himself the chief of sinners.[2] Dr. Wheatlly wd. call that an orientalism. Let him call it what he will. We are sinful, deeply sinful, sorrowful creatures; & if Thou Oh Lord most merciful holy & true, dost not wipe away our sins & our tears, oh Lord Who under Heaven, will cease to sin & weep? Speaking & feeling for myself,—the dye of my sin, & the stain of my tears, will last for ever!-- Not all great ocean’s waters could wash out that, which one drop of the blood of Christ can wash out— Yea! hath washed out!--
I had a letter from Papa today. Its subjects are exclusively religious.
1. Essays on the Lives of Cowper, Newton, and Heber; or, an Examination of the Evidence of the Course of Nature being Interrupted by the Divine Government (London, 1830). Although Dr. Richard Whately (1787–1863), Archbishop of Dublin, was a prolific theological writer, E.B.B. erred in crediting him with responsibility for these essays; the British Museum Catalogue ascribes authorship to John Philips Potter (1793–1861).
2. I Tim. i.15.
