THEIR MYSTICISM. 299 



not to general rules capable of direct verifica- 

 tion ; but to notions vague, distant, and vast, which 

 we cannot bring into contact with facts, because 

 they belong to a different region from the facts ; 

 as when we connect natural events with moral 

 or historical causes, or seek spiritual meanings in 

 the properties of number and figure. Thus the 

 character of Mysticism is, that it refers particulars, 

 not to generalizations homogeneous and immediate, 

 but to such as are heterogeneous and remote; to 

 which we must add, that the process of this re- 

 ference is not a calm act of the intellect, but is 

 accompanied with a glow of enthusiastic feeling. 



1. Neoplatonic Theosophy. The Newer Pla- 

 tonism is the first example of this Mystical Philo- 

 sophy which I shall consider. The main points 

 which here require our notice are, the doctrine of 

 an Intellectual World resulting from the act of the 

 Divine Mind, as the only reality; and the aspira- 

 tion after the union of the human soul with this 

 Divine Mind, as the object of human existence. 

 The " Ideas" of Plato were forms of our knowledge ; 

 but among the Neoplatonists they became really 

 existing, indeed the only really existing, objects ; 

 and the inaccessible scheme of the universe which 

 these ideas constitute, was offered as the great sub- 

 ject of philosophical contemplation. The desire of 

 the human mind to approach towards its Creator 

 and Preserver, and to obtain a spiritual access to 

 Him, leads to an employment of the thoughts which 



