CHAPTER VII.

‘Enthusiasm.’

(C.J.  Abbey.)

Meaning of ‘Enthusiasm’ as generally dreaded in the eighteenth
  century, 226
A vague term, but important in the history of the period, 227
As entering into most theological questions then under
  discussion, 229
Cambridge Platonists:  Cudworth, Henry More, 230
Influence of Locke’s philosophy, 234
Warburton’s ‘Doctrine of Grace’, 237
Sympathy with the reasonable rather than the spiritual side of
  religion, 237
Absence of Mysticism in the last century, on any conspicuous
  scale, 238
Mysticism found its chief vent in Quakerism 240
Quakerism in eighteenth century 241
Its strength, its decline, its claim to attention, 244
French Mysticism in England.  The ‘French Prophets’, 246
Fenelon, Bourignon, and Guyon, 249
German Mysticism in England.  Behmen, 251
William Law, 253
His active part in theological controversy, 254
Effects of Mysticism on his theology, 255
  His breadth of sympathy and appreciation of all spiritual
    excellence, 257
  Position of, in the Deist controversy, 259
  Views on the Atonement, 259
  On the Christian evidences, 260
  Controversy with Mandeville on the foundations of moral
    virtue, 261
  His speculation on the future state, 261
  On Enthusiasm, 263
  His imitator in verse, John Byrom, 264
The Moravians, 265
  Wesley’s early intimacy with W. Law and with the Moravians, 266
  Lavington and others on the enthusiasm of Methodists, 269
  Points of resemblance and difference between Methodism and the Mystic
    revivals, 271
Bearing of Berkeley’s philosophy on the Mystic theology, 274
William Blake, 275
Dean Graves on enthusiasm, 276
Samuel Coleridge, 277

CHAPTER VIII.

Church abuses.

(J.H.  Overton.)

Fair prospect at the beginning of the eighteenth century, 279
Contrast between promise and performance, 279
Shortcomings of the Church exaggerated on many sides, 280
General causes of the low tone of the Church:—­
  (1) Her outward prosperity, 280
  (2) Influence and policy of Sir R. Walpole, 281
  (3) The controversies of her own and previous generations, 282
  (4) Political complications, 282
  (5) Want of synodal action, 282-4
Pluralities and non-residence, 284-6
Neglect of parochial duties, 286-7
Clerical poverty, 287-9
Clerical dependents, 289
Abuse of Church patronage, 290-2
Evidence in the autobiography of Bishop T. Newton, 292-3
      " " " Bishop Watson, 293-6
      " " " Bishop Hurd, 296-7
Clergy too much mixed up with politics, 297-8
Want of parochial machinery, 298-300
Sermons of period too sweepingly censured, 300