The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28
The Captivity of Thought.

lSelected Tor me IlfneS-DlSpatCh.) o.
bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christi
il. Cor. Y. 8. t,s.5sGto
The greatest on earth is man, and
the greatest in man is mind, and the
greatest function of the mind is to
chief distinction.
Thought Is the instrument OF all his
work: for without it there is nothing
done that can truly be called work
neither know what to do nor how 10
do it. Thought is also the great ma
terial with which we work. and it is
capable of indefinite multiplied ton.
in seasons OF excitement or hours OF
inspiration?
1t is impossible to estimate the value
of thought. Work without wit or wis
dom is of little value. All works of
skill are costly. and skilled labor com
mands the highest market price. And
as the world completes It's history,
thought will be more and more in de-
Of thought viii come to the front.
But for our thoughts to possess this
value, we must learn to lead them;
have them at our command and under
most hopeless task? Who can tell
whence his thoughts may come or
whittier they will go? Nevertheless,
difficult as it may be. we may learn
must do this If they are to be of any
real or lasting value. For thought
unled is as the wind and waves to a
ship under canvas, but without rud-
der.
If man does not lead his thoughts
some other power Will, and every pow
er (but the true one) will make Itself
felt more and more. and man less; SO
that If the flesh leads, he becomes car
nal; If the world. worldly; If the devil,
devilish. What SO important then, as
that we should have power over our
thoughts; able to choose and select
what wo wish. to retain and dismiss
those we would Danish?
But IL we would lead our thoughts
We must know how to interest them.
We cannot lead thought when we feel
no interest; the mind soon withdraws;
the Will wearies in pursuing course
of thought which does not engage its
affections. The mind places itself at
the service OF the heart, and the af-
fectlons control the will. This ex-
plains tho difficulty in the beginning
of any new study. 1t is hard to arrest
tho attention and fix the thoughts
where we feel little, If any, interest.
Yet wo know the mind readily labors
for what interests the heart.
Tho heart liveth with it's treasure
and surrounds it with constant thought.
We should watch those thoughts which
come unbidden; note we'll their char
acter and ascertain their right to the
place they seek to occupy, We can
not do this too soon, for thoughts
which occupy tho heart become impas-
stoned and are difficult to dslodge,
even though they may be such as 1t
i'll becomes us to cherish; and If not
dismissed become habitual ere we arc
aware
But how are we to lead our thoughts
into captivity? Thought may be led
but it cannot be forced. We must
present to the mind that which is
agreeable to It's nature, and simply ask
for obedience to an authority which,
though it speaks without. appeals to
its own Amen within. II we would
lead our thoughts into captivity our
leading must be a call to obedience.
Obedience. Yes, but to what? The
first is our conscience, which cannot
be directly seduced. sllcncyd or de-