[19] Seligio Poetae, 1893, p. 163.

[20] Religio Poetae, 1893, p. 44.

[21] The “Ring” of Eternity is a familiar mystical symbol which Vaughan doubtless knew in other writers; for instance as used by Suso or Ruysbroeck.  See Mysticism, by E. Underhill, p. 489 and note.

[22] See the illuminating description of this essentially mystic feeling given by J. Stewart in The Myths of Pinto, Introduction, pp. 39 et seq.

[23] The Story of my Heart, pp. 87, 88.

[24] Ibid., p. 76.

[25] The Story of my Heart, p. 199.

[26] Ibid., p. 71.

[27] Ibid., p. 74.

[28] See Compendium of Philosophy, a mediaeval digest of the Abhidhamma, translated by S. Z. Aung and Mrs Rhys Davids, 1910, 152 f.

[29] We cannot agree with Prof Grierson, who, in his fine recent edition of the poet (Donne’s Poems, Oxford, 1912, vol ii., pp. cxxxv.-vi.), holds that the style and tone of this song point to Donne not being the author.  For these very qualities it would seem indubitably to be his.

[30] Surely also by Donne, but see Grierson, vol. ii., pp. cxxxviii-ix.

[31] Centuries of Meditations, ed.  Dobell, 1908, pp. 20, 21.

[32] Centuries of Meditations, pp. 156-58.

[33] Life of Tennyson, by his son, 1905, p. 268; see also pp 818, 880.

[34] This is the idea, essentially mystical, and originating with Boehme, which is worked out in the suggestive little book, The Mystery of Pain, by James Hinton.

[35] An Appeal, Work’s, vol. vi. pp. 27, 28.

[36] The Spirit of Prayer, Works, vol. vii. pp. 23, 24.

[37] Cf. St Augustine, “To will God entirely is to have Him” (City of God, Book xi. chap, iv.), or Ruysbroek’s answer to the priests from Paris who came to consult him on the state of their souls:  “You are as you desire to be.”

[38] See The Spirit of Prayer, Works, vol. vii. pp. 150, 151.

[39] An Appeal, Works, vol. vi. p. 169.

[40] Ibid., pp. 19, 20.

[41] Ibid., pp. 69, 80.

[42] The Spirit of Prayer, Works, vol. vii. pp. 23, 27.

[43] The Way to Divine Knowledge, Works, vol. vii. p. 60.

[44] The Spirit of Prayer, Works, vol. vii. p. 68.  See also ibid., pp. 91, 92

[45] An Appeal, Works, vol. vi. pp. 132, 133.

[47] An Appeal, Works, vol. vi. p. 115.

[48] The Destiny of Nations, II. 16-18.

[49] Frost at Midnight, 11. 60-62.

[50] Sartor Resartus, Book i. chap. xi.

[51] See Sartor, Book iii. chap. iv.

[52] The mystical desire for close contact with God is expressed in English as early as before 1170, in Godric’s song to the Virgin.