326 PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



their successors, the predictions of the astrologers, 

 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 unsubstantial ideas, is true ; as, on the 

 other hand, Mysticism, among the vulgar or the 

 foolish, often went to an extent of extravagance 

 and superstition, of which I have not attempted to 

 convey any conception. The lesson which the pre- 

 ceding 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 intelligent and pro- 

 found reasoners; and that this Mysticism was the 

 opposite of that habit of thought which we have 

 stated Science to require ; namely, clear Ideas, dis- 

 tinctly 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 enthu- 

 siasm, which could not submit to a calm conference 

 with experience upon even terms. The fervour of 

 thought in some degree supplied the place of reason 

 in producing belief; but opinions so obtained had 

 no enduring value ; they did not exhibit a per- 

 manent record of old truths, nor a firm foundation 

 for new. Experience collected her stores in vain, 



