there are greater difficulties in the way, yet there are some inducements calculated to operate upon you now, of a more powerful nature than there would have been then. In youth the question is merely personal: if the self-indulgence which the practice of lying in bed longer than the requirements of nature demand be criminal, its bad effects are confined to the individual; but when placed at the head of a family, there is the double responsibility which is attached to particular and relative guilt. The influence which ought to be exerted over others to induce them to follow what is right, becomes a talent abused, when this use is neglected to be made of it; and really I am most inclined to be earnest whilst dwelling upon this my confessedly darling theme, when I recollect that in the observance or neglect of it, so much of the comfort or uneasiness of every member of a family is involved.

But it is far from being too late to correct your error. I am very well aware of the power of habit; that by repetition,

those acts, which at first were difficult to be performed, are done quite mechanically; and that those manual operations, which at 'first required the closest attention of the mental faculties, are afterwards effected without any perceptible intellectual exertion. But the great difficulty in overcoming any particular habit consists in this: by repetition it appears to be almost natural; a part as it were of our physical constitution, and connected with the very first principles of our bodily conformation; and thus, the reason, no longer directed to the consideration of how far it is right or wrong, deserts its proper office, and takes its station very frequently on the side which it ought to oppose. But where the voice of conscience and the dictates of duty are resorted to, where the judgment is suffered to exert itself unbiassed by prejudice and partiality, there we have only to arouse the conscience and convince the judgment, in order to lead to the exercise of those powers which shall at once break off the fetters of habit and chains of custom.

Where, notwithstanding such a conviction is produced, habit is still suffered to prevail over conscience, we have a lamentable instance of human frailty, and a melancholy proof of the debasement which sin has produced. Whilst the slave of his passions may adopt the sentiment,

"Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor,"

I hope my friend will nearer resemble the character which our immortal Milton has sketched, and which forms so perfect a contrast to the idea of the heathen poet:

"I

Approve the good, and follow what I approve.”

Amidst all the inventions which have been introduced within these few years, I do not remember to have seen a single instance of any letters patent having been granted, "for a new and effectual method of making time!" And yet I cannot but think this would be a much more valuable discovery than the philosopher's stone it

self; inasmuch as the one would put into our possession what the easily-created gold of the other could never have purchased. Now, though I do not intend to obtain any exclusive privilege either of using or of communicating to others this discovery, yet I certainly do think that the adoption of the daily habit of early rising, would most completely effect all that could be desired from such an invention. Only suppose, for one moment, a man engaged in some important undertaking, one which required the exertion of all his powers; to which he must bring all the stores of his memory, and the fruits of past diligence, and on which he must exercise every faculty that he possessed; whilst the object to be attained was to be effected within a limited period; or all his labour, his fatigue, his anxiety, his earnestness, and his assiduity would be of no avail. Would he not readily promise a portion of his expected reward to the friend, who could reveal to him a plan, by which the hours he had calculated upon as intervening between

the time of the commencement of his undertaking, and the period for its completion, could be nearly doubled?-by which he might live as long again as those who were passing through the same apparent number of days? I will neither anticipate your reply, nor extend my letter by dwelling on the application. You, my dear friend, have a mighty work to perform: you have a heaven to seek, a hell to shun, a wicked heart to subdue, and a corrupt nature to overcome. The space allotted you for this purpose is very short, and I point out to you a way by which it may be lengthened.

But though I cannot but consider the value of time an argument sufficiently strong in itself, without any other, to convince you of the importance of the habit which I urge upon you, yet I will not dwell upon this, as the hint alone must be sufficient to lead you to further reflection. My object is rather to direct your attention to some few circumstances connected with the practice which I am recommending,