--which is losing one's senses. But the old and true sense,
which is still used by those who speak good English.

To distract, means literally to pull a thing two different ways--even to
pull it asunder. We speak of distracting a man's attention, when we call
him off from looking at one thing to make him look at something else, and
we call anything which interrupts us in our business, or puts a thought
suddenly out of our heads, a distraction. Now the Greek word which St
Matthew uses, means very nearly this--Be not divided in your thoughts--do
not think of two things at once--do not distract your attention from to-
day's work, by fearing and hoping about to-morrow. Sufficient for the
day is the evil thereof; and you will have quite trouble enough to get
through to-day honestly and well, without troubling yourself with to-
morrow--which may turn out very unlike anything which you can dream.
This, I think, is the true meaning of the text; and with it, I think,
agrees another word of our Lord's which St Luke gives--And be ye not of
doubtful mind. Literally, Do not be up in the air--blown helpless hither
and thither, by every gust of wind, instead of keeping on the firm
ground, and walking straight on about your business, stoutly and
patiently, step after step. Have no vain fears or vain hopes about the
future; but do your duty here and now. That is our Lord's command, and
in it lies the secret of success in life.

For do we not find, do we not find, my friends, in practice, that our
Lord's words are true? Who are the people who get through most work in
their lives, with the least wear and tear, not merely to their bodily
health, but to their tempers and their characters? Are they the anxious
people? Those who imagine to themselves possible misfortunes, and ask
continually--What if this happened--or that? What would become of me
then? How should I be able to pull through such a trouble? Where shall
I find friends? How shall I make myself safe against the chances and
changes of life? Do we not know that those people are the very ones who
do little work, and often less than none, by thus distracting their
attention and their strength from their daily duty, daily business? That
while they are looking anxiously for future opportunities, they are
neglecting the opportunities which they have already. While they are
making interest with others to help them, they forget to help themsel