THEIR MYSTICISM. 227 



Popes Sylvester the Second and Gregory the Seventh, had been in- 

 volved in the wide calumny. In the same way in which the vulgar 

 confounded the eminent learning and knowledge which had appeared 

 in recent times, with skill in dark supernatural arts, they converted 

 into wizards all the best-known names in the rolls of fame ; as Aris- 

 totle, Solomon, Joseph, Pythagoras ; and, finally, the poet Virgil was 

 a powerful and skilful necromancer^, and this fancy was exemplified by 

 many strange stories of his achievements and practices. 



The various results of the tendency of the human mind to mysticism, 

 which we have here noticed, form prominent features in the intel- 

 lectual character of the world, for a long course of centuries. The 

 theosophy and theurgy of the Neoplatonists, the mystical arithmetic 

 of the Pythagoreans and their successors, the predictions of the astrol- 

 ogers, the pretences of alchemy and magic, represent, not unfairly, 

 the general character and disposition of men's thoughts, with reference 

 to philosophy and science. That there were stronger minds, which 

 threw off in a greater or less degree this train of delusive and unsub- 

 stantial ideas, is true ; as, on the other hand, Mysticism, among the 

 vulgar or the foolish, often went to an extent of extravagance and super- 

 stition, of which I have not attempted to convey any conception. The 

 lesson which the preceding survey teaches us is, that during the Sta- 

 tionary Period, Mysticism, in its various forms, was a leading character, 

 both of the common mind, and of the speculations of the most intel- 

 ligent and profound reasoners ; and that this Mysticism was the oppo- 

 site of that habit of thought which we have stated Science to require ; 

 namely, clear Ideas, distinctly employed to connect well-ascertained 

 Facts ; inasmuch as the Ideas in which it dealt were vague and unstable, 

 and the temper in which they were contemplated was an urgent and 

 aspiring* enthusiasm, which could not submit to a calm conference 

 with experience upon even terms. The fervor of thought in some degree 

 supplied the place of reason in producing belief; but opinions so ob- 

 tained had no enduring value ; they did not exhibit a permanent 

 record of old truths, nor a firm foundation for new. Experience col- 

 lected her stores in vain, or ceased to collect them, when she had only 

 to pour them into the flimsy folds of the lap of Mysticism ; who was, 

 in truth, so much absorbed in looking for the treasures which were tc 

 fall from the skies, that she heeded little how scantily she obtained, or 

 how loosely she held, such riches as might be found near her. 



