Amos A. Phelps was a young Congregational minister who was about to embark on a career as a noted abolitionist. In 1833, he was still a year away from that adventure, but as the new year came in, he wrote down his resolutions like a million other serious young men. His handwritten diary can be seen in the Internet Archive; here some of his less common abbreviations have been expanded, but the text is otherwise as he wrote it. We do not know which Mr. Seixas was Phelps’ Hebrew instructor, but it could have been one of the fifteen children of the famous Gershom Mendes Seixas.
Jan 1st 1833. Tuesday Eve. Commenced the study of Hebrew with Mr Seixas to day. Preached this evening on the subject of Fasting. Gave my people strong meat. Dont know how it will set. Tuesday Eve ✝ meetings generally not fully attended. Wife still sick. As this is the beginning of another year I would record the solemn purposes of my soul.
Resolved—1. that as a whole I will strive continually to be more devoted & to carry more of a savor of piety into the various duties of my office.
Resolved—2. that I will make it a point to rise as early as 6 the year round.
Resolved—3. that I will make it a point to economize my time to the best possible advantage & to this end will aim to do every thing at its proper time & in the shortest time possible.
Resolved—4. that I will, when circumstances admit, pray 3 times each day—morning, noon, & night.
Resolved—5. that I will make it a point to converse with some impenitent sinner each day in the year.
——Manuscript journal of Amos A. Phelps, vol. 2.