PhillipsFamilyBox1_22-23_003a

Boston June 24, 1795

My dear Son,

I have lately written to you on business
of various kinds; tho' a proper care & attention to secular concerns
and especially to such as one particularly committed to you
during my absence^ is very pleasing^, yet you will ever remember that all tem-
poral concerns must be placed in due subordination to those which
comparatively, are along of importance: It is the part of
true wisdom to give to every object an attention proportionate to
it's importance; how large a portion of our affections then should
[ ] be engrossed by the objects of futurity; the period is not far
distant when this world & all its ^concerns^ will appear lighter than the dust
of the ballance; the whole life of man, even of those who live long-
est, will presently appear but a moment - an inconsiderable point -
how trifling then, how inconcievably trifling with most of
those little objects be considered which now engross so large a
part of the time & concern of deluded mortals! - all that tends
merely to gratify the pride, ambition, sensual appetites or
unreasonable passions of men, will then here after be viewed,
not merely as unworthy the pursuit of rational beings, but with
an high degree of disapprobation & abhorrence, as impediments
to our best interest, even the prosperity of the immortal part -

Therefore, my dear Son, be persuaded to begin early to give to
every object its proper place in your heart, in your time and
pursuit: I need not again observe to you, that the ALMIGHTY
MAKER of us all, has the first & infinitely the highest & best claim to
the best exercises of all the powers & faculties which he has bestow-
ed us: our first thoughts, in ^y^e^ beginning of each day, ought
certainly