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In the Works of Henry More ORBIT-OnlineRepository ofBirkbeckInstitutionalTheses Enabling Open Access to Birkbeck’s Research Degree output "Miraculous and supernaturall effects" in the works of Henry More https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/40434/ Version: Full Version Citation: Fitzpatrick, Clare (2019) "Miraculous and supernaturall ef- fects" in the works of Henry More. [Thesis] (Unpublished) c 2020 The Author(s) All material available through ORBIT is protected by intellectual property law, including copy- right law. Any use made of the contents should comply with the relevant law. Deposit Guide Contact: email “Miraculous and supernaturall effects” in the works of Henry More Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: 2019 Clare Fitzpatrick Department of History, Classics and Archaeology Birkbeck College, University of London 1 I confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own work. Clare Fitzpatrick 2 Abstract Dr. Henry More [1614-1687], the prominent English theologian and philosopher, included hundreds of cases of “miraculous and supernaturall effects”, such as ghosts, witchcraft and divine intervention, throughout many of his works. Many historians of More have struggled to reconcile their admiration for his philosophy with their embarrassment at his engagement with ideas and cases concerning the supernatural. Therefore whilst the associated belief structures (especially witchcraft) have been examined by modern social and cultural historians, the experiences themselves, and the contemporary study of those experiences, have been relatively neglected. This study will expand on earlier work by A. Rupert Hall, Allison Coudert and Robert Crocker to explore More’s use of such cases to explain the different metaphysical properties of God (miracles, prophecy and providence), the characteristics of the soul, angels, demons and witchcraft, and the Spirit of Nature (an intermediary spiritual principle that organises and animates matter). The cases represent a fascinating insight into beliefs and phenomenology. Human experience is a product of both culture and individual cognitive and perceptual processes and therefore I have integrated certain findings from anomalistic psychology into this interdisciplinary psycho-historical study to help bridge the gap between realism and relativism. The anachronistic charges of credulity against More are challenged by assessing More’s beliefs in their contemporary context; his robust criticism of Catholic miracle claims and astrology demonstrate he did distinguish between different types of supernatural assertions. I have also identified how More struggled to balance his natural theology with the new science, the pitfalls of confirmation bias and pseudo- scientific reasoning, and how More’s own personal experiences contributed to his conviction in his personal belief framework and his acceptance of such a broad range of miraculous and supernatural effects. 3 Contents Page Abstract 3 Abbreviations 8 1. Introduction 11 1.1 Overview 11 1.2 Biography 20 1.3 Literature Review 24 1.3.1 Early Editors and Commentators 24 1.3.2 Seeds of Change 27 1.3.3 Key Modern Research 28 1.3.4 Further Specialist Studies 37 1.4 Structure of the thesis 47 2. The Works of Henry More in their Intellectual Context 51 2.1 Overview 51 2.2 1642-7: Neoplatonism 51 2.3 1648-64: Letters to Descartes and V.C. 54 2.4 1650-6: Enthusiasm and Thomas Vaughan 56 2.5 1652-3: Scripture and Science 58 2.6 1652-5: Natural theology and the threat of Atheism 59 2.7 1659-62: Incorporeal Substance 63 2.8 1660-5: Christian Apology & Anglican Attacks 65 2.9 1667-8: Ethics and Divine Dialogues 70 2.10 1670-79: Metaphysics and Mechanical Philosophy 75 2.11 1675-81: Varia Opera 80 2.12 1680-2: Defence of Spirits 83 2.13 1669-85: Apocalyptic Exposition 87 2.14 1669-86: Catholic Idolatry 92 4 3. Henry More’s methodology concerning his use of “miraculous and 96 supernaturall effects” 3.1 Scope 96 Table 1: Analysis of Author / Origin within Saducismus 98 Triumphatus 3.2 Methodology 99 3.2.1 Method 99 3.2.2 Criteria and Circumspection 101 3.3 Case Distribution and Origin 103 Table 2: Cases by Theme ranked by Total by Work 105 3.4 Source Distribution and Origin 107 Table 3: Cases by Chronological Period of Source ranked 109 by Total by Work 3.5 Referencing 109 Table 4: Cases by Reference Category ranked by Total by 111 Work 3.6 Accuracy 114 3.6.1 Content 114 3.6.2 References 116 3.7 Changes, Criticism and Credulity 118 3.7.1 Revisions 118 3.7.2 Criticism 122 3.7.3 Scepticism and Credulity 124 4. Miracles, Providence and Prophecy 127 4.1 Introduction 127 4.2 Old Testament Miracles 129 4.3 New Testament Miracles 134 4.4 Biblical Prophecy 139 4.5 Providence 143 4.5.1 Melampronoea 143 4.5.2 Lampropronaea 148 4.6 “Legendary Lies and false Miracles” 152 5 4.7 Summary Conclusion 157 5 Independence and Immortality of the Incorporeal Soul 160 5.1 Introduction 160 5.2 The incorporeal, indiscerpible and self-active soul 161 5.3 The pre-existent soul 163 5.4 The travelling soul 165 5.5 The immortal soul: Resurrection 171 5.6 The immortal soul: Ghosts 172 5.6.1 Overview 172 5.6.2 Restoring a legacy 176 5.6.3 Murder victims 177 5.6.4 Advice or warnings 179 5.6.5 Seeking a proper burial 180 5.6.6 Death pact 181 5.6.7 Malevolent ghosts 182 5.7 Summary Conclusion 188 6 Nature and Powers of Angels, Demons and Witches 190 6.1 Introduction 190 6.2 Angels and Guardian Genii 191 6.3 The Devil and his Demons 194 6.4 Disturbed and Haunted Houses (Poltergeists) 197 6.5 Possession by Evil Spirits 202 6.6 Witchcraft 208 6.6.1 Overview 208 6.6.2 Diabolic rituals 208 6.6.3 Transportation 210 6.6.4 Transformation 211 6.6.5 Bewitchment 214 6.6.6 Necromancy 215 6.6.7 Weather magic 216 6.6.8 Moral magic 217 6 6.7 Summary Conclusion 219 7 Spirit of Nature and Plastic Power of the Soul 222 7.1 Introduction 222 7.2 Nature and Divine Providence 224 7.3 Sympathy 229 7.4 Imagination, Enthusiasm and Melancholic Delusion 231 7.5 Imagination and the Plastick Power of the Soul 236 7.6 Healing and Sanative Contagion 242 7.7 Astrology and Talismans 244 7.8 Summary Conclusion 247 8 Conclusion 250 Appendix 1: Portrait of Henry More 260 Figure 1: Engraving of Henry More by William Faithorne (1675) 260 Appendix 2: Collected Works of Henry More 261 Bibliography 262 Notes on the Text 262 Manuscript Sources 262 Primary Sources 264 Secondary Sources 285 7 Abbreviations Dates for later editions are provided in the notes as applicable. AA An Antidote against Atheism (1653) AAI An appendix to the late antidote against idolatry (1673) AARJ Apocalypsis Apocalypseos; Or the Revelation of St John the Divine unveiled (1680) AHM The Apology of Dr. Henry More (1664) [annexed to ME-MI] AI An Antidote Against Idolatry (1669) [annexed to ESESC ] AKJV Authorized King James Version of the Bible (1611) ASR An answer to several remarks upon Dr. Henry More, his expositions of the Apocalypse and Daniel, as also upon his Apology written by S.E. Mennonite, and published in English by the answerer ; whereunto are annexed two small pieces, Arithmetica apocalyptica, and Appendicula apocalyptica (1684) ATFT Annotations upon the two foregoing treatises, Lux orientalis, or, An enquiry into the opinion of the Eastern sages concerning the prae- existence of souls, and the Discourse of truth (1682) AV An account of virtue, or, Dr. Henry More's abridgment of morals (1690) [English translation of EE 2nd edition] BDRP A brief discourse of the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (1686) BJHP British Journal for the History of Philosophy BR-AI A brief reply to a late answer to Dr. Henry More his Antidote against idolatry (1672) CC Conjectura cabbalistica (1653) CSPW A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr Henry More (1662 or 1712 as stated) DD Divine Dialogues containing sundry Disquisitions & Instructions concerning the Attributes of God and his Providence in the World (1713) [English translation of DD-123 and DD-45 2 nd edition] DD-123 Divine Dialogues containing sundry Disquisitions & Instructions 8 concerning the Attributes and Providence of God - The Three First Dialogues, treating of the Attributes of God, and his Providence at large (1668) DD-45 The Two Last Dialogues, Treating of the Kingdome of God Within us and Without us, and of His special Providence through Christ over His Church from the Beginning to the End of all Things (1668) DH Divine Hymns (1668) [annexed to DD-45 ] DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 5th Edition (2013) EE Enchiridion Ethicum (1668) EM Enchiridion Metaphysicum (1671) EPD A plain and continued exposition of the several prophecies or divine visions of the prophet Daniel (1681) ESESC An exposition of the seven epistles to the seven churches together with a brief discourse of idolatry, with application to the Church of Rome (1669) ET Enthusiasmus Triumphatus (1656) GMG An Explanation of the grand Mystery of Godliness (1660) IS The Immortality of the Soul (1659) ME-MI A Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity – The First Part (1664) ME-SP A Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity – Synopsis Prophetica, Or, The Second Part of the Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity (1664) OAT Observations upon Anthroposophia theomagica, and Anima magica abscondita (1650) OED Oxford English Dictionary (2018) OO Henrici Mori Cantabrigiensis Opera Omnia (1679) ODNB Oxford Dictionary of National Biography OT H.
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