book discuss, first the mystical and psychological aspect

of the life and teachings of Christ, as described in the Synoptic gospels, then that of St. Paul, then the mysticism of the Fourth Evangelist : the three outstand ing personalities of the New Testament. By the three groups of documents through which these personalities are revealed to us the principles of Christian mysticism were fixed, its psychological imperatives demonstrated. The lives of later mystics merely repeat, and seldom in perfection, the pattern curve which is there laid down.
The succeeding section, which deals with three of the special forms taken by the mystical impulse in the early Church, and with a great but neglected mystic through whom that impulse passed, is but a slight sketch of a great subject, to which I hope to return. It is placed here in the hope that it may help the inexperienced student to discern some of the links — not always obvious — which
PREFACE xi
connect the superb mysticism of primitive Christianity with its better known developments in the mediaeval world. I end with a study of the liturgy of the Mass: the characteristic art-form in which the mystical con sciousness of Christendom has expressed itself.
Biblical quotations have been made, where possible, from the Authorized Version : the Revision being used only where it gives additional clearness. In many cases, however, neither version seemed to bring home to the modern reader the exact meaning or living quality of the original; and here I have used Weymouth's literal " New Testament in Modern Speech." References to some of the larger works of Eucken, Harnack, Deissmann, and Jiilicher, are to the English translations, the latest edition of the German not being accessible to me.
Such as it is, this book necessarily owes much to the help, advice, and criticisms of others, more competent than I in the great subjects of which it ventures to treat : friends, fellow students, reviewers, and correspondents. Not all of these will allow a public expression of my gratitude : I can but offer them, collectively, my heartiest thanks for many and invaluable services. But amongst those to whom I am specially indebted for skilled and generous help in various departments, I should like to name here Mr. W. Scott Palmer, Miss Ethel Barker, Miss Margaret Robinson, Mr. H. Stuart Moore, F.S.A., and Mr. David Inward; and take this opportunity of expressing to them my great gratitude for their kindness.
A considerable part of the chapter entitled " St. Paul and the Mystic Way" has already appeared in The Contemporary Review. It is now reprinted by kind permission of the Editor.
E. a.
Candlemas, 1013*
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
PREFACE vii
I MYSTICISM AND HUMAN LIFE
I The Instinct for Transcendence 3
II The Quest of a Thoroughfare . ... 14
III The Finding of the Thoroughfare . . . . 35
IV The Mystic Way 47
V The Christian Mystic 58
II MYSTICISM AND CHRISTOLOGY
I The Synoptic Record ...*>... 73
II The Baptism and Temptation 83
III The Illuminated Life 96
IV The Way of Sorrow 124
V The Deified Life ........ 143
III ST. PAUL AND THE MYSTIC WAY
I The Growth of the New Man ..... 157
II The Laws of the New Life 193
IV THE JOHANNINE MYSTIC
I A Gospel of Experience . . . . . . .213
II The Logos-life in Voice and Vision . . . .221
III The Mystic Way in the Fourth Gospel . . . .241
V THE MYSTIC LIFE IN THE EARLY CHURCH
I The Age of Enthusiasm 261
II Alexandria and the Art of Contemplation . . . 278
III The Monastic Ideal ... ... 303
IV A Mystic of the Desert 315
xiii
xiv CONTENTS
CHAP.
VI THE WITNESS OF THE LITURGY
I The Outer Mystery ..... . 333
II The Inner Mystery ....... 351
LIST OF AUTHORITIES CITED ....... 373
TABLE OF NEW TESTAMENT QUOTATIONS . , . .383 INDEX .,,,*..,,„,. 387