hearts, and sweetening their affections towards God; as an ornament of God's service, and a help to our own devotion;' has also, by his authority and example, recommended a better and more obvious means of raising up man's heart, sweetening his affection towards God, more acceptable in God's sight, and a greater help to our own devotion. My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord! early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up*." Nor have we,

* Psalm v. 3. The word pa, signifying manè, diluculum, signifies also tempestivè, opportunè, ut ea sunt quæ manè fiunt. The verse may, therefore, bear this paraphrase: "When my powers are renovated, when my sacrifice is the most acceptable, when my soul can pray with the greatest fervour, will I," &c. At Proverbs i. 27, 28." When your fear cometh as a desolation-then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early (i. e. diligently, with earnest, hearty endeavour), but they shall not find me :"

אן יקראנני ולא אענה ישחונני ולא ימצאנני:

Samuel, of Jeremiah, and of Him, also, whose shoe-latchet none of these were worthy to unloose.

The same arguments, then, which evince music to be a desirable adjunct to devotion, prove early rising to be still more essential to it. As an excitement to devotion, early rising is incomparably the most efficacious of the two. It has the same, and greater example and authority. If Church music can render that brief, enthusiastic glow, which it is the mysterious property of harmony to inspire, subservient to devotion, early rising can, by bestowing more permanent vigour and cheerfulness to pray with fervour and efficacy, open a larger space wherein to exercise religious alchemy, teach us to do all to the glory of God, and to improve and change even the natural temper of our mind into a Christian virtue; if we are afflicted, to pray; if merry, to sing Psalms. If we are sorrowful, we shall

thus the more heartily pray unto Him who breaks not the bruised reed, nor quenches the smoking flax, for strength against all our temptations; that he will heal all that is disordered within us, and turn our vain and ardent wishes, or regrets, into godly sorrow for our past offences. If our hopes are bright, and our heart joyful, we shall thus with greater alacrity return thanks for the blessings of which we partake so largely. Whatever be our temper, the cheerfulness which, " in spite of sorrow," springs up within us in the morning, will incline and prepare our heart to thankfulness: the bounties of nature will increase our gratitude, and administer to our devotion; and all that inspires us with joy will inspire us with thankfulness. Ω τῆς σοφῆς ἐπινοίας τῆ διδασκάλε ὁμε τε ἄδειν ἡμᾶς καὶ τὰ λυσιτελῆ μανθάνειν μηχανωμένο.

The very commandment, to keep the Sabbath holy, might teach us to make the

morning the Sabbath of every day. For if the purport of the command be to remind us of (what we are so apt to forget,) our duty to God, and our speedy departure from hence into his presence, we but concur with the spirit of it when we rise from sleep to prostrate ourselves before Him; rendering Him thanksgiving for his mercies in permitting us again to behold the light; beseeching Him to keep us throughout the day without sin and wickedness; and so to enable us to obey his will that we may finally be numbered among those whom Christ will acknowledge as his faithful servants.

Now, inasmuch as thus to sanctify each day by early rising, and by early devotions to the Most High, is pointed out as our duty by experience, by reason, by conscience, by Scripture-inasmuch as it has been successfully practised by the most pious in all ages and in all nations; and lastly, in particular, by those whose great

learning and piety has so much benefited our Country and our Church, it is to their example in this respect that I would advert;

II. Which leads one to consider, and lament, the too great prevalence of that false luxury of protracting the morning hours in sleep; for which men sacrifice that which mainly contributes to the vigour of the mind and body, often to the rectitude and purity of the heart: foregoing, for the sake of what can scarcely be called an indulgence, those hours by which not only their term of life is increased, but which are in themselves, the most of all others, conducive alike to health, to wisdom, and to piety.

Whether a man's purpose is to enjoy the utmost this life can give him, to excel in learning and acquirements, or to render his life acceptable to his Creator, he