Systematic Theology (Vol 1) - Hodge - VI - Chapter 4 (Mysticism) continued

Required reading
Systematic Theology Volume 1 by Charles Hodge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 4 (Mysticism) by reading up to (but not including) Point 6. 'The Quakers or Friends'.

My summary
This week Hodge continues his historical review of mysticism.

Firstly he gives some reasons why the Reformation assisted the advent of mysticism.  In particular, the Reformation taught:
(i) the right of private judgement;
(ii) that religion is a matter of the heart.

Then Hodge gives some information about mystics at the time of the Reformation, before moving to a general review of Quietism.

What grabbed me
I found it interesting that the doctrines of the Reformation were misused: 'The first is, the right of private judgment. This, as understood by the Reformers, is the right of every man to decide what a revelation made by God to him, requires him to believe. It was a protest against the authority assumed by the Church (i. e. the Bishops), of deciding for the people what they were to believe. It was very natural that the fanatical, in rejecting the authority of the Church, should reject all external authority in matters of religion. They understood by the right of private judgment, the right of every man to determine what he should believe from the operations of his own mind and from his own inward experience, independently of the Scriptures. But as it is palpably absurd to expect, on such a subject as religion, a certainty either satisfactory to ourselves or authoritative for others, from our own reason or feelings, it was inevitable that these subjective convictions should be referred to a supernatural source. Private revelations, an inward light, the testimony of the Spirit, came to be exalted over the authority of the Bible. '

Humans have an incredible ability to take something which is true and then use it to justify something that is false.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 4 (Mysticism).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.