Appendix. 4^7 



appellation oi Theofophers or Phikfophers by fire : at the head 

 of whom ftand Theophrallus Paracelfus, Robert Fladd, and 

 Jacob Behmen, phyfiognomills of no fmall confideration, 

 who adopted with fingular avidity, and propagated with 

 perfevering induftry, almoft every ridiculous opinion which 

 the extravagant philofophy of the times had previoufly intro- 

 duced ; adding to thefe, various theories of their own 

 fanciful produ£lion equally ridiculous and unfounded with 

 the wildell notions of their fpeculative predeceflors. Some- 

 what like the gnoftic chriltians of old, they were eager to 

 prefs their myftic theology into an .unnatural connedion 

 with their philofophical reveries; and hence the motley 

 affemblage of religion, alchemy, magic, aitrology, &c. 

 fo ftrangely united, and Hill more llrangely delivered in the 

 writings of this feft. 



Paracelfus, a native of Zuric in Switzerland, feems to 

 have been the firft who in the beginning of the fixteenth 

 century gave life and reputation to the theofophic philo- 

 fophy ; oppofing with the greateft violence the fcholaftic 

 and metaphyfical dodlrines of the literati of that time, and 



Antinomian, Calviniftic or Armlnlan ; all of this clafs (like the preceding 

 indeed) hold the neceffuy of fpiritual regeneration (by many called the 

 new. birth) or total change of heart and difpofition by the preternatural 

 imparting of Divine Grace and immediate operation of the Holy Ghoft, 

 not merely fuggefting to the mind religious afts, but working divine habits 

 in the foul. A dodlrine not obfcurely delivered in the articles of the 

 church of England, 7. The followers of Dr. H. More, Mr. Norris, &c. 

 8. the difciples of Engelbrecht, Swedenborg, &c. befides other claHes of lefs 

 obvious occurrence. The chriftian myftics may be divided into two 

 general clafles ; i. the purely theological, as the Afketics of all kinds, 

 Quietiits, Quakers, Moravians, Methodifts, &c. and s. the philofophico- 

 theoloaical, or thofe who connefl their own philofophical theories with 

 their myftic theology, fuch as the Cnoftics and Theofophifls. Perhaps alfo 

 under this clafs may be included the Swedenborgian and other funilar 

 ■v'lfionarm. But however they may differ in their rcfpeflive fyftems, im- 

 mediate revelation and divine union is in general the connefting principle 

 of their theology, and the analogy, refemblance or connexion of all fpheres 

 and orders of beings of their philcfophy. 



abufing 



