PLOTINUS. THE LATER PLATONISTS, 301 



ing by immediate communications with superior beings, to obtain power 

 over demons, and to attain to the enjoyment of the Divine vision. 



It is evident that there is the greatest similarity between the Comparison 

 mysticism of the Plotinian school and that of the Quietists in later j5SSan he 

 times, who regarded an intense and undisturbed contemplation of the school and 

 divine perfections as a means of obtaining an intimate union with the the Quie 

 Deity. Indeed, it would be no uninteresting speculation to compare 

 the Plotinian reveries with those of the Hesychasts and of the Illuminati, 

 as well as with those of Molinos, Malaval, Mad. Guyon, and Fenelon 

 names which show (and it is the best lesson of charity) how often 

 mistaken, and even dangerous, opinions may find admission into minds, 

 to which it would be unjust to deny the praise of amiable and benevo- 

 lent and pious feelings. 



It is to be remarked that Plotinus not merely extended, but even Difference 

 departed from, the doctrines of Plato. For instance, according to Jj^J $* 

 Plato, matter is coeternal with the Divinity, to whom he alone Plato and 

 attributes those ideas, of which it imposes the forms on matter ; Plotmus - 

 according to Plotinus, all that is real is in the Divinity, emanates from 

 it ; matter is only a vain appearance, a mere negation. According to 

 Plato, the object of man is to draw near to God, to endeavour to 

 resemble Him ; according to Plotinus, man may unite, and, as it were, 

 identify himself with God. According to Plato, ideas are only present 

 to the Supreme Intelligence j 1 according to Plotmus, they are substances 

 identified with that intelligence. 2 , 



1 This Platonic doctrine has been described with exquisite beauty by one of our 

 own poets, whose genuis, "warm from the schools" of Athens, and truly "en- 

 chanted with Socratic sounds," was peculiarly adapted to lend attractions no less 

 to the philosophical than to the political sentiments of ancient Greece : 



Ere the radiant sun 



Sprang from the East, or 'mid the vault of night 



The moon suspended her serener lamp : 



Ere mountains, woods, or streams, adorn'd the globe, 



Or Wisdom taught the sons of men her lore 



Then lived the Almighty One, then, deep retired, 



In his unfathomed essence, view'd the forms, 



The forms eternal of created things ; 



The radiant sun, the moon's nocturnal lamp, 



The mountains, woods, and streams, the rolling globe, 



And Wisdom's mien celestial. From the first 



Of days, on them his love divine he fix'd, 



His admii-ation, till, in time complete, 



What he admir'd and lov'd, his vital smile 



Unfolded into being. Hence the breath 



Of life, informing each organic frame ; 



Hence the green earth, and wild-resounding waves ; 



Hence light and shade, alternate warmth and cold, 



And clear autumnal skies and vernal showers, 



And all the fair variety of things. 



Akenside Pleasures of Imagination, book i. 

 It would be curious to compare the above systems with that of Malebranche. 



2 Degerando, Hist. Comp. des Syst. Phil. torn. ii. c. 21. The following may 



