Confound, o’erpower me with thy grace: I would be by myself abhor’d, (All might, all majesty, all praise,) All glory be to Christ my Lord! Now let me gain perfection’s height! Now let me into nothing fall! Be less than nothing in my sight, And feel that Christ is all in all! SERMON XLI. WANDERING THOUGHTS. 2 COR. x. 4. _Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ._ 1. BUT will God so _bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ_, that no _wandering thought_ will find a place in the mind, even while we remain in the body? So some have vehemently maintained: yea, have affirmed, that none are _perfected in love_, unless they are so far perfected in understanding, that all _wandering thoughts_ are done away: unless not only every affection and temper, be holy, and just, and good, but every individual thought which arises in the mind, be wise and regular. 2. This is a question of no small importance. For how many of those who fear God, yea and love him, perhaps with all their heart, have been greatly distrest on this account? How many, by not understanding it right, have not only been distrest, but greatly hurt in their souls? Cast into unprofitable, yea, mischievous reasonings, such as slackened their motion towards God, and weakened them in running the race set before them. Nay many, thro’ misapprehensions of this very thing, have cast away the precious gift of God? They have been induced first to doubt of, and then to deny the work God had wrought in their souls; and hereby have grieved the Spirit of God, ’till he withdrew and left them in utter darkness. 3. How is it then, that amidst the abundance of books which have been lately published almost on all subjects, we should have none upon _wandering thoughts_? At least none that will at all satisfy a calm and serious mind? In order to do this in some degree, I purpose to enquire I. What are the several sorts of wandering thoughts? II. What are the general occasions of them? III. Which of them are sinful, and which not? IV. Which of them we may expect and pray to be delivered from? I. 1. I purpose to enquire, first, What are the several sorts of wandering thoughts? The particular sorts are innumerable; but in general, they are of two sorts, thoughts that wander from God, and thoughts that wander from the particular point we have in hand.