27 August–2 September 1838

A good subject for a sermon would be the Doctrine of Benefits. Benefit is the end of na- ture. Benefit is done to all by all, by good and bad, voluntarily and involuntarily. Air, water, sun and moon, stone, plant, animal, man, devil, disease, poison, war, vice, — all serve. But man is a voluntary benefactor. The meaning of good and bad, of better and worse, is simply helping or hurting. He is great who confers the most benefits. He is base — and that is the one base thing in the universe — to receive favors and render none.' ... In the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those from whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefits we receive must be rendered again line for line, deed for deed to somebody.

It is very grateful to my feelings to go into a Roman cathedral, yet I look as my country- men do at the Roman priesthood. It is very grateful to me to go into an English church and hear the liturgy read. Yet nothing would in- duce me to be the English priest. I find an un- pleasant dilemma in this nearer home. I dislike to be a clergyman and refuse to be one. Yet how rich a music would be to me a holy clergy- man in my town. It seems to me he cannot be a man, quite and whole ; yet how plain is the need of one, and how high, yes, highest, is the function. Here is division of labor that I like not. A man must sacrifice his manhood for the social good. Something is wrong, I see not what.'