1 66 On the Mystical Poetry of 



exprefs its emotions, has recourfe to metaphors and allegories, which le 

 fometimes extends beyond the bounds of cool reafon, and often to the brink 

 ofabfurdity. Barrow, who would have been the fublimeft mathemati- 

 cian, if his religious turn of mind had not made him the dsepeft theologian, 

 of his age, defcribes Love as " an affection or inclination of the foul to- 

 " ward an object, proceeding from an apprehenfionand efteerrrof fomeex- 

 11 cellence or convenience in it, as its beauty, worth, or utility, and pre*. 

 66 during, if it be abfenf, a proportionable defire, and confequently an 

 * A endeavour, to obtain fuch- a property in it, fuch poffeflion of it, fuck 

 " an approximation- to it, or anion with it, as the thing is capable of; with 

 " a regret and difpleafure in failing to obtain it, or in the want and lofs ofitj, 

 " begetting likewife a complacence, fatisfaction, and delight in its pre- 

 " fence, poffeffion, or enjoyment $ which k moreover attended with a good 

 *' will toward it, fui table to its nature ; that is, with a defire, that it 

 " mould arrive at, or continue in, its belt. Hate; with a delight to per- 

 '• ceive it thrive and flourim ; with a difpleafure to fee it fuffer or decay; 

 ** with a confequent endeavour to advance it in. all good and preferve it; 

 " from all evil." Agreeably to this defcription, which eonfifls of two^ 

 parts, and was defigned to comprize the tender love ©f the creator towards 

 created fpirits, the great philofopher burfts forth in another place, with his 

 ufual animation and command Jof language, into the following panegyrick 

 on the pious love of human fouls toward the author of their happinefs :. 

 " Love is the fweeteft and moft delectable of all paffions j and, when by 

 «* the conduct of wifdom it is directed in a rational way toward a worthy r 

 '• congruous, and attainable object, it cannot otherwife than fill the heart 

 " with ravifhing delight.* fuch, in all refpects fuperlatively fuch, is God^ 

 " who, infinitely beyond all other things, deferveth our affection, as moft 

 " perfectly amiable and defirable ; as having obliged us by innumerable 



