The Old Testament in any language, the New in Greek.
This day I began to read the Septuagint, but read only 230 verses, the nine first chapters of Genesis.
On this evening I repeated the Prayer for Easter Day, changing the future tense for the past.
June 1, 1770.
Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep
his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but
by length of time, and frequency of experiment. This
opinion of our own constancy is so prevalent, that we
always despise him who suffers his general and settled
purpose to be overpowered by an occasional desire.
They, therefore, whom frequent failures have made
desperate, cease to form resolutions; and they who
are becoming cunning, do not tell them. Those who
do not make them are very few, but of their effect
little is perceived; for scarcely any man persists in a
course of life planned by choice, but as he is restrained
from deviation by some external power. He who may
live as he will, seldom lives long in the observation of
his own rules. I never yet saw a regular family, unless
it were that of Mrs. Harriot's, nor a regular man, except
Mr. , whose exactness I know only by his
own report, and Psalmanazar, whose life was, I think,
uniform.
1771.
Easter Day.
March 31.
Almighty and most merciful Father, I am now about to commemorate once more, in thy presence, the redemption of the world by our Lord and Saviour, thy Son Jesus Christ. Grant, O most merciful God, that the benefit of his sufferings may be extended to me. Grant me faith, grant me repentance. Illuminate me with thy Holy Spirit, enable me to form good purposes, and to bring
