Enthusiasm

ENTHUSIASM. This is the name whereby that poetical fury is distinguished, which transports the mind, inflames the imagination, and causes it to utter things furfurprizing and sublime. Virgil describes very finely the Enthusiasm of Apollo’s Priestess, whom Æneas consulted before he made his journey to hell.

Sometimes also the Inspiration of Prophets is termed Enthusiasm, because the moment they prophesied, they seemed to be quite transported, and besides themselves, and spoke a very extraordinary language. Thus Saul meeting a company of Prophets, who were prophesying with musical instruments playing before them, he too fell a 1 Sam. x. 5—10.prophesying among them: The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he prophesied among them. The same Prince going with a design to seize David, who was at that time among the Prophets, the Spirit of God on a sudden took possession of him: he thereupon undressed himself, and continued naked among them all day and all night. The Enthusiasm of Prophets is commonly expressed by the Hebrews under the terms, the hand of the Lord, which was sensibly perceived within them, or by the Spirit of God falling on them, or taking possession of them. 2 Kings iii. 15, 16.The prophet Elisha being in the army belonging to the Kings of Judah and Israel, and having been consulted by King Jehoshaphat, desired some musicians might be brought to him, in order to calm the motion of his mind; for he had just before been speaking to Jehoram King of Israel with some warmth; Bring me a minstrel; and it came to pass when the minstrel plaid, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. The Pythagoreans are said to have made use of singing and instrumental musick to procure a composure of their passions, and a serenity of Cicero Tuscul. quæst. l. 4.mind. Pythagoræi mentes suas a cogitationum intentione, cantu fidibusque ad tranquillitatem traducebant.

The false Prophets and heathen Soothsayers were in a manner mad while their Enthusiasm was upon them; but the Prophets of the Lord were impelled by a gentle impression, which, without disturbing their mind or imagination, communicated to them all the strength, majesty, and authority which were necessary for their speaking and acting like the ambassadors of God; whereas the false Prophets and Diviners, being animated only by some evil Genius, or even counterfeiting an inspiration, which in reality they had not, put themselves into agitations, and unnatural motions, used violent contorsions, and endeavoured so to get rid of the demon which disturbed them.

It is true, God sometimes acted upon the minds of the Prophets with so much force, as in some sort to offer violence to them. Jeremiah complains, that God had in some degree deceived him, by engaging him in the employment of prophecy. O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I am deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed; I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name: but his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary of forbearing, and I could not stay. Elihu, in Job, said almost the same; Job xxxii. 18, 19.I am full of matter, the Spirit within me constraineth me, my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles. Such was the enthusiasm of true Prophets; it animated, warmed, and transported them; it gently constrained them, and inflamed their zeal, so that they could not forbear inveighing against irregularities, and reproving wicked men. But notwithstanding these impressions were so lively, strong, and efficacious, the Spirits of the Prophets were subject to the Prophets, as St. Paul says, and they preserved their knowledge of things with a suitable presence of mind and tranquillity: nay, we see certain Prophets, who excused themselves from prophesying, such as Jonah, who fled to Tarsus, that he might avoid preaching at Nineveh; and the Prophets whom God complains of, who were unwilling to declare all that he inspired them with to the people. Behold, I am against the Prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. In a word, the true Prophets were not like those Diviners, who in their fury spoke whether they would or no, and without knowing what they said, who used a thousand vain endeavours to shake off the yoke of that Demon who agitated them;

Lucan. Pharsal. l. 5.—Bacchatur demens aliena per antrum, Colla ferens, vittasque Dei, Phœbeaque serta Erectas discussa comas per inania Templi Ancipiti cervice rotas — magnoque exæstuat igne, Iratum te Phœbe ferens, &c. The Church and Fathers¹ condemned the Montanists, who taught, that the true Prophets were transported, and besides themselves, when they prophesied, like the Priests and Priestesses of Apollo in their enthusiastick fits.

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