Chapter VII ‘Enthusiasm.’
(C.J. Abbey.)
Meaning of ‘Enthusiasm’ as generally dreaded in the eighteenth century 226
A vague term, but important in the history of the period 227
As entering into most theological questions then under discussion 229
Cambridge Platonists: Cudworth, Henry More 230
Influence of Locke’s philosophy 234
Warburton’s ‘Doctrine of Grace’ 237
Sympathy with the reasonable rather than the spiritual side of religion 237
Absence of Mysticism in the last century, on any conspicuous scale 238
Mysticism found its chief vent in Quakerism 240
Quakerism in eighteenth century 241
Its strength, its decline, its claim to attention 244
French Mysticism in England. The ‘French Prophets’ 246
Fénelon, Bourignon, and Guyon 249
German Mysticism in England. Behmen 251
William Law 253
His active part in theological controversy 254
Effects of Mysticism on his theology 255
His breadth of sympathy and appreciation of all spiritual excellence 257
Position of, in the Deist controversy 259
Views on the Atonement 259
On the Christian evidences 260
Controversy with Mandeville on the foundations of moral virtue 261
His speculation on the future state 261
On Enthusiasm 263
His imitator in verse, John Byrom 264
The Moravians 265
Wesley’s early intimacy with W. Law and with the Moravians 266
Lavington and others on the enthusiasm of Methodists 269
Points of resemblance and difference between Methodism and the Mystic revivals 271
Bearing of Berkeley’s philosophy on the Mystic theology 274
William Blake 275
Dean Graves on enthusiasm 276
Samuel Coleridge 277