Association of ideas

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Further, how many wanderings of thought may arise from those various associations of our ideas, which are made entirely without our knowledge and independently of our choice? How these connections are formed we cannot tell, but they are formed in a thousand different manners. Nor is it in the power of the wisest or holiest of men to break those associations, or to prevent what is the necessary consequence of them and matter of daily observation. Let the fire but touch one end of the train, and it immediately runs on to the other.

1771 text

6. *Farther, How many wanderings of thought may arise, from those various associations of our ideas, which are made entirely without our knowledge, and independently on our choice? How these connexions are formed we cannot tell: but they are formed in a thousand different manners. Nor is it in the power of the wisest or holiest of men, to break those associations, or to prevent what is the necessary consequence of them, and matter of daily observation. Let the fire but touch one end of the train, and it immediately runs on to the other.

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About this text

On 2 Corinthians 10:5: which wandering thoughts are sinful, which are not, and which we may hope to be free from.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 41 in the 1771 Works. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

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