PHILOSOPHY, MENTAL. 
mention of tlic introduction of t!ie connected 
ideas. Situations must be avoided, words 
disused, company shunned, whicii have a 
known tendency to introduce a train of 
thought leading to tlie first link of the 
chain which we wish for ever separated. 
36. Wiien we hold it out as a grand law 
of association, that connections may be 
disunited by forming opposing associations, 
and by preventing their repetition, we 
would by no means represent it as in general 
an easy, or as in all cases a practicable task. 
— When associations have been long formed, 
and often repeated, particularly where they 
accord with the general bias of the mind, 
they often bid defiance to the most strenuous 
exertions of the individual. If he could for 
a long time prevent their repetition, and 
successfully cultivate opposing associations, 
the most inveterate associations would by 
degrees loosen their power ; but when as- 
sociations have been strengthened for a 
long period of time, by being frequently 
brought into play, and connected with other 
active associations, and at the same time 
accord with the prevailing disposition of the 
mind, the prevention of their repetition, 
and the culture of opposing associations, is 
scarcely practicable. — These things may be 
viewed in various lights, some gratifying to 
the mind, some which must urge every 
thoughtful person to shun the formation 
and culture of those associations which he 
must some time or otlier wish to break. 
While they teach us to be assiduously care- 
ful to prevent all such, they also shew us 
that those which we most wish to cherisli 
may as well as others of a contrary charac- 
ter, become invincible ; and while they di- 
rect those who have the care of the young, 
carefully to cultivate those tendencies to 
feeling and action, that is, those associations 
which may serve as a check upon improper 
associations, while they direct them care- 
fully to prevent those which may acquire a 
despotic rule in the mind to the destruc- 
tion of peace and virtue, they also diminish 
the anxiety which we are sometimes prone to 
feel when we find onrselves unable to mould 
them exactly to that standard of thought 
and feeling which we wish. 
37. It may be well to enlarge a little 
here. Numerous are the associations, par- 
ticularly of a speculative nature, which 
yield to the influence of time and change of 
circumstances. In many instances the 
destruction of the association depends upon 
the efforts of the individual ; but in the 
greater number it is occasioned without bis 
direct efforts, by the increase of bis know- 
ledge, by circumstances preventing the re- 
currence of the associatioti, or by tlie for- 
mation of contrary associations upon more 
solid grounds. But that they may be broken 
should never be allowed as a reason for the 
formation of improper associations ; for the 
difficulty is frequently great, in many in- 
stances insuperable, except by such disci- 
pline, such peculiar concurrences of cir- 
cumstances as fall not to the lot of every in- 
dividual. The association between certain 
motives and that state of mind which we 
call volition, formed in early life, and 
strengthened by frequent repetition, is fre- 
quently found so indissoluble, that it leads 
the unhappy individual to act against his 
better judgment, and the destruction of bis 
corporeal, and even of his mental energies, 
produced by his conduct, prevents those 
exertions for his release which he wishes to 
make, but lias not the power to attempt. — 
In every mind, more or less, circumstances 
generate desires and passions, these gene- 
rate volition, and volition produces action. 
How few are there who have attained the 
power of voluntarily separating passion or 
volition, or rendering tliem less connected ; 
or of repressing tliose passions which were 
previously invariably connected with the 
circumstances which gave them origin. In 
all men the train of thought is partly invo- 
luntary ; how few are there who are capa- 
ble of directing their associations into one 
channel by tlie exertion of volition, and 
employing them in one definite way ; of 
destroying improper associations, and of 
forming new ones, actuated by a view to 
the claims of duty, and to tlieir improve- 
ment in wisdom and virtue. How fre- 
quently do we see others (and self-know- 
ledge will shew us repeated instances vi'hich 
come home to our own bosoms) in situations 
where they act against their better judg- 
ment, a situation which is so forcibly 
described by the apostle, “ for that which 
I do, I allow not ; for what I would, that Ido 
not ; but what I hate, that I do.” This we 
can easily account for upon the principles of 
association. He who is in such a situation, 
may be convinced that certain actions are 
wrong, that they will infallibly injure bis 
future happine.ss, tliat ttey must imbitter 
his present enjoyment : but his conviction 
comes too late.Tlie object which promises the 
gratification of some or other of his powerful 
principles of action, presents itself to his 
mind ; it strongly prompts his desires or 
his passions ; the association between these 
