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hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition, 1 Tim. vi. 9, it does hinder the care of things spiritual and heavenly. It causes persons either not to come at all to the means of salvation, Matt. xxii. 5; Luke xiv. 18, &c., or if they come to the word, prayer, sacraments, good company, and good conference, to depart without spiritual profit, Matt. xiii. 22; Ezek. xxxiii. 31. It will cause a man to err from the faith, 1 Tim. vi. 10, and to be altogether unfit for death, and unprepared for his latter end. For when any one part draws more nourishment to itself than it ought, some other parts must needs be hindered in their growth; and when the strength of the ground is spent in nourishing weeds, tares, or corn of little worth, the good wheat is obstructed in its growth, choked, or starved, Phil. iii. 19. "He whose cares are too much about the earth, his cares will be too little about the things of heaven."

Why a man should not be careful about success in any thing.

Next, consider the reasons, why you must not indulge any anxious care about success in your lawful endeavours, any more than by prayer to commend them to God.

First, Because it is to usurp upon God's peculiar right, God's divine prerogative, taking his sole and proper work out of his hands; for care of success, and of what shall be hereafter, is proper to God, 1 Peter v. 7.

Secondly, It is a vain and fruitless thing, when you have diligently used lawful means for any thing, to take thought for success, Psa. cxxvii. 2. For who can by taking thought add any thing to his stature? Luke xii. 25, 26; or make one hair white or black? Matt. v. 36. Understand the same of all other things.

Thirdly, Every day brings its full employment with it, together with its crosses and griefs, Matt. vi. 34; so that you will have full work enough for your care, to endeavour to do the present day's work holily; and to bear each present day's affliction fruitfully and