Chap. 4. ] Influence of the Will. 435 



as muft be the cafe in a change from one ftate to ano- 

 ther, fuch are the ideas danger zndfafety. 30, Per- 

 haps two things, which are oppofite, being perceived 

 at once, the mind is more forcibly ftruck by each of 

 them, the ideas are conftquyitly more vivid, and more 

 liable to be recollected. 



The train of ideas is often regulated by fome end 

 propofcd to ourfelves j for where we have an object in 

 view, fuch ideas as are connected with it will of courfe 

 be fuggefled.- By theie means we are frequently im- 

 pofed on ; a pafiion or an intereft will lead on a train 

 of arguments favourable to them, while we imagine 

 we are acting with the utmoft impartiality *. 



c The indired influence of the will/ fays Dr. Stuart, 

 ff ever the train of our thoughts, is very extenfive. It 

 is exerted chiefly in two ways: ift, By an effort of 

 attention we can check the fpontaneous courfe of our 

 ideas, and give efficacy to thofe aflbciating princi- 

 ples which prevail in a ftudious and collected mind ; 

 ad, By practice we can ftrengthen a particular aflbci- 

 ating principle to fo great a degree, as to acquire a 

 ^command over a particular clafs of our ideas.' 



* ' Should any one be furprifed at this dHpofition in our nature 

 to aflbciate any ideas together for the future, which once prcfented 

 themfelves jointly, confidering what great evils, and how much 

 corruption of affections is owing to it, it may help to account for 

 this part of our conftitution, to confider, " that all our language, 

 and much of our memory, depends upon it;" fo that, were there 

 no fuch aflbciations made, we muft lofe the ufe of words, and a 

 great part of our power of recalling paft events, befide many other 

 Valuable powers and arts which depend upon them." 



Hutchinfon on the faficnij f, i. p. II. 



Ffa 



