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Hours with the Mystics: A Contribution to the History of Religious Opinion

Chapter 58: HOURS WITH THE MYSTICS VOL. II.
By Robert Alfred Vaughan
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About This Book

The work surveys Christian mystical traditions through literary readings and historical sketches, tracing recurring themes such as inward experience, ascetic discipline, visionary language, and tensions between personal spirituality and doctrinal institutions. It combines critical essays, translations, and framed conversations to present representative mystical writings, interpret their symbolism, and evaluate their influence on religious opinion. Biographical notes and polemical comparisons highlight doubts, devotional yearnings, and varied theological responses, aiming to explain how mystical expression shaped debates about doctrine, worship, and the nature of religious experience.

HOURS WITH THE MYSTICS
VOL. II.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

BOOK VII.—PERSIAN MYSTICISM IN THE MIDDLE AGE.
CHAPTER I.
The Sufis; their Mystical Poetry 3
Mystical Poetry in the West; Angelus Silesius 5
R. W. Emerson 8
CHAPTER II.
Rabia 10
The Oriental and the Western Mysticism compared 12
BOOK VIII.—THEOSOPHY IN THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION.
CHAPTER I.
The Position of the Mystics as regards the Reformation 31
The Advantage of the Ground occupied by Luther 32
Menacing Character of the Revolutionary Mysticism 35
The Anabaptists of Munster 37
CHAPTER II.
Luther and the Mystics 41
The Prophets of Zwickau 44
Carlstadt 44
Sebastian Frank 47
Schwenkfeld 50
Weigel 51
CHAPTER III.
Mysticism and Science 53
The Cabbala 55
Nature studied by the Light of Grace 57
Alchemy 58
Theurgy 59
CHAPTER IV.
Cornelius Agrippa 61
The Science of Sympathies 63
Redemption, Natural and Spiritual 67
CHAPTER V.
Theophrastus Paracelsus 71
Signatures 76
Theological Chemistry 77
CHAPTER VI.
Jacob Behmen and his Aurora 79
Illumination 82
Troubles 86
CHAPTER VII.
Jacob Behmen, his Materials, and Style of Workmanship 90
The Theory of Development by Contraries 92
The Three Gates 95
The Aurora 97
CHAPTER VIII.
Jacob Behmen—Sketch and Estimate of his System 103
The Mysterium Magnum 104
The Seven Fountain-Spirits 104
Examination of his Doctrine concerning the Origin of Evil 109
The Fall 115
Merits of his Theosophy 119
CHAPTER IX.
The Rosicrucians 128
Romance and Reality 129
Valentine Andreä and his Fama Fraternitatis 134
Secret Societies 136
The Creatures of the Elements 138
Magical Words 140
Pordage and the Philadelphian Society 142
Joanna Leade 144
BOOK IX.—THE SPANISH MYSTICS.
CHAPTER I.
Neo-Platonism revived in Italy 147
Its Weakness, opposed to the Reformation 148
The Counter-reformation 150
Headed by Spain 150
Character of its Mysticism 151
St. Theresa 153
Her Autobiography 156
The Director 158
Visions 160
CHAPTER II.
Theresa’s Four Degrees of Prayer 167
Her Quietism 171
CHAPTER III.
St. John of the Cross 182
His Asceticism 183
His Mystical Night 185
More elevated Character of his Mysticism 193
BOOK X.—QUIETISM.
CHAPTER I.
Queen Quietude 201
The Doctrine of ‘Pure Love’ discussed 205
Madame Guyon 207
Her Unhappy Marriage 208
The Kingdom of God within us 211
Efforts to Annihilate Self 213
Interior Attraction 216
Madame Guyon and the Romish Saints 218
Confessors and Small-pox 222
The Seven Years of Famine 224
Self-loss in God 227
Mistakes concerning the Nature of Spiritual Influence 230
Reformatory Character of her Mysticism 233
Activity and Persecution 234
CHAPTER II.
The Quietist Controversy 242
Molinos 242
Madame Guyon at Paris 245
St. Cyr 248
Fénélon and Madame Guyon 250
Signs of Danger 252
The Conferences at Issy 255
The Quietism of Fénélon 258
His Critical Position 262
Writes the Maxims of the Saints 263
Appeals to Rome 265
Bossuet’s Account of Quietism 268
Fénélon’s Reply 269
Infallibility submits to Louis 271
Fénélon submits to Infallibility 272
The Controversy reviewed 273
Mysticism in France and in Germany 275
CHAPTER III.
Disinterested Love 283
Antoinette Bourignon 286
Peter Poiret 287
Madame de Krüdener 288
BOOK XI.—MYSTICISM IN ENGLAND.
CHAPTER I.
Britain poor in Mystics 301
George Fox 303
The Early Friends 305
Asceticism 309
Doctrine of the Universal Light 309
CHAPTER II.
Doctrine of Perceptible Guidance 313
The English Platonists 315
Henry More; Norris of Bemerton 315
BOOK XII.—EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
CHAPTER I.
Comprehensive Character of his Mysticism 321
Doctrine of Correspondences 323
Stands alone among the Mystics 326
CHAPTER II.
His Memorable Relations 329
His Heaven and Hell 330
Moderation of his Doctrine concerning Spiritual Influence 331
Defects of his Doctrine concerning the Work of Christ 332
The Church of the New Jerusalem 335
BOOK XIII.—CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER I.
Mystical Tendencies of our own Time 340
The Faith-Philosophy 341
Schleiermacher 341
The Romantic School 343
Novalis 348
Revival of antiquated Error 350
The Modern Mysticism a Repetition of the Old 351
The Services of Mysticism 352
Its Dangers 352
Its Lessons 356
CHAPTER II.
Mysticism fostered by the Supposition of a Separate Religious Faculty 361
Reason, how far amenable to Understanding 362
Historic Reality not opposed to Spirituality 365
CHAPTER III.
A Vision of Mystics 368