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CHAPTER III. 

 OF THE MYSTICISM OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 



IT has been already several times hinted, that 

 a new and peculiar element was introduced 

 into the Greek philosophy which occupied the at- 

 tention of the Alexandrian school ; and that this 

 element tinged a large portion of the speculations 

 of succeeding ages. We may speak of this peculiar 

 element as Mysticism ; for, from the notion usually 

 conveyed by this term, the reader will easily ap- 

 prehend the general character of the tendency 

 now spoken of; and especially when he sees its 

 effect pointed out in various subjects. Thus, instead 

 of referring the events of the external world to 

 space and time, to sensible connexion and causa- 

 tion, men attempted to reduce such occurrences 

 under spiritual and supersensual relations and de- 

 pendencies; they referred them to superior intel- 

 ligences, to theological conditions, to past and 

 future events in the moral world, to states of mind 

 and feelings, to the creatures of an imaginary my- 

 thology or demonology. And thus their physical 

 Science became Magic, their Astronomy became 

 Astrology, the study of the Composition of bodies 

 became Alchemy, Mathematics became the contem- 



