Priestley 220-4

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

CHAPTER VIII.

CHURCH ABUSES.