the attendants upon an act of commendable self-denial. You, I am sure, have often felt that satisfaction which has resulted from the conquest of some tyrant passion, and have wondered how you could ever have been its slave.

"The joys of conquest are the joys of man;❞—

and if you wish to enjoy all the pleasures of a triumph where its laurels are unstained with blood, and its palm of victory is unsteeped in tears, let me intreat you daily to obtain them, by manifesting a superiority to this slothful habit; and I will promise you, that not a sigh shall escape from you on the recollection of the downfal of your enemy.

Perhaps a stronger argument for the practice which I am recommending to you cannot be urged, than an appeal to your own experience. Let me inquire of you, when peculiar circumstances of business, or other sufficiently strong inducements have led you to rise earlier than usual, what have been your feelings? Have you not been surprised at your past insensibility,

that could suffer you to lose so much valuable time? Have you not despised yourself for having given way to what is generally called an indulgence, but which you have found to be a complete obstacle to the most exquisite of all indulgencies? Have you not, in spite of your recollections of past habits, experienced something like a feeling of contempt for those who were still locked in sleep, instead of exerting the faculties nature had bestowed on them? who were "tossed in a sea of dreams," instead of employing their judgments when they were most capable of exercise? Have you not felt the force of the sentiment,

"Tis brave to wake, lethargic souls among,
To rise, surrounded by a sinking throng?"

and in all the pride of your self-complacent superiority, have you not pitied from your heart the slaves of sloth, who were too abject even to desire their emancipation from its tyranny?

There is certainly a very peculiar selfishness about some of our enjoyments, and

though many might distinguish them by a more pleasing appellation, yet I cannot help thinking that this is a just one. How often have we heard the roaring of the wind as we have sat securely sheltered from its rage, and casting an eye of pleasure on the comforts of our apartment, how often have we drawn our chairs nearer to our fires, and thinking on the unfortunate persons who were exposed to all the fury of the boisterous ocean, hugged, as it were, our blessings closer to our bosoms, and found them more valuable than ever, because there were some who did not possess them? How often have we rattled along in a snug post-chaise, whilst the snow or rain was spending all its fury on the poor pedestrian who was getting out of the way of our vehicle, and, with a very natural exclamation of "poor man,” found our situation the more enviable from the comparison; and soon exchanged our sympathies for the object of our commiseration, for more agreeable reflections on our own superior shelter? If you think these feelings desirable, only rise earlier every

morning than those around you, and you will experience them in their full effect; but with this material difference, that whilst those which are produced in the manner first alluded to, are enhanced by the misfortunes of those whose situations are placed in contrast to our own, and consequently, involve something really ungenerous about them; such as are occasioned by early rising, are increased by a very justifiable pity of the insensibility of those who have them in their power, if they would but exert themselves a little to obtain them.

And what a complete contrast do such feelings as these afford, to those which are experienced in rising from a bed of sloth and laziness. You are very far from being the only person, who, when I have alluded to this subject, has acknowledged himself fully alive to its importance, but confessed that he needed some stronger excitement than he had ever yet received to rouse him from his lethargy. And what is the natural consequence of such a conviction of the judgment, and such a failure in the

practice? Each morning, instead of being commenced with sentiments of gratitude to that kind and paternal Being who has added another day to his former mercies, is accompanied with a bitter reflection on his again becoming the slave of a habit which he detests, but is unwilling to relinquish. A softness is thrown over the disposition altogether inconsistent with the courage and strength which the daily concerns of business require. A dissatisfaction with self is produced, which sours the temper, and which is opposed to every thing amiable and pleasing. Every object which presents itself is veiled in a gloom which invests it in a peculiarly melancholy hue, and deprives it of the power of bestowing the pleasures which it may be really calculated to afford. The mutual endearments of the social circle are suspended; and very often the brows of the more aged are knit into a frown at the artless cheerfulness of the young, arising from an envy of their happiness, a very near resemblance to which might have been