found more easy to serve the Lord fully in a single state, than in a state which must necessarily he at- tended with some " distraction" and embarrassment. Upon this particular question I have no design to enter. But the basis upon which the Apostle framed his decision, is alike applicable to all cases, and in all ages : " I would have you without carefulness." Dis- missing, therefore, from our minds the subject pro- posed to him, and which, in fact, must depend altogether upon the personal feelings and peculiar circumstances of every distinct individual, I will pro- ceed to shew you,
I. The evil and danger of " carefulness" —
Every kind of care is not evil ; but only that care which is attended with anxiety. And this is evil,
1 . As distracting our mind —
[It is surprising how even a small matter, upon which we set our hearts, will incapacitate us for attending to our spiritual concerns. Some object to be attained, or some trial to be avoided, or some difficulty to be overcome, though in itself of very trifling moment, will so dwell upon the mind as to indispose us for reading the word of God ; and will even so disturb our repose by night, as to unfit us for any mental ex- ertion The injury which this must do to the soul is
obvious ]
2. As impeding our progress —
[The eastern dress is calculated to impede the movements of him that wears it : and hence Elijah girded up his robes, when he ran before Ahab''. To this the Apostle refers, when he speaks of " our laying aside every weight, and the sin that more easily besets us*^." Any care operates in this way, as a weight upon the feet, and an obstacle to our progress, even in temporal duties, and much more in those which are of a spiritual nature. Our blessed Lord illustrates this by another inaage, taken from agriculture ; and tells us, that " the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the good seed that has been sown within us, and prevent it from growing up to perfection '' " ]
3. As tending to turn us from the path of strict integrity —
b ] Kiiufs xviii. 40. '' llcl). xii. 1. "^ Matt. xiii. '22.