his had been early indicated, especially in the essays
on Bunyan and Robert Dinsmore, in "Old Portraits and Modern Sketches,"
and in passages of "Literary Recreations." Whittier's prose, by the way,
is all worth reading.

[15] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat des Convulsionnaires_, p. 104.

[16] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc., p. 104.

[17] _Vains Efforts des Discernans_, p. 36.

[18] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc., p. 66.

[19] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc., p. 67. The latter part
of the quotation alludes to crucifixion and other symbolical
representations, to which the convulsionists were much given.

This state of ecstasy is one which has existed, probably, in occasional
instances, through all past time, especially among religious
enthusiasts. The writings of the ancient fathers contain constant
allusions to it. St. Augustine, for example, speaks of it as a
phenomenon which he has personally witnessed. Referring to persons thus
impressed, he says,--"I have seen some who addressed their discourse
sometimes to the persons around them, sometimes to other beings, as if
they were actually present; and when they came to themselves, some could
report what they had seen, others preserved no recollection of it
whatever."--_De Gen. ad Litter._ Lib. XII. c. 13.

[20] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc., p. 77.

[21] _Lettre de M. Colbert_, du 8 Fevrier, 1733, a Madame de Coetquen.

[22] Montgeron, Tom. II.

[23] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Oeuvre_, etc., p. 123.

[24] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc. p. 82.

[25] _Ibid._ p. 17.

[26] _Ibid._ p. 19.

[27] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc., p. 77.

[28] In proof of this opinion, Montgeron gives numerous quotations from
St. Augustine, St. Thomas, St. Gregory, and various theologians and
ecclesiastics of high reputation, to the effect that "it often happens
that errors and defects are mixed in with holy and divine revelations,
(of saints and others, in ecstasy,) either by some vice of nature, or by
the deception of the Devil, in the same way that our minds often draw
false conclusions from true premises."--_Ibid._ pp. 88-96.

[29] _Ibid._ p. 94.

[30] _Ibid._ p. 95.

[31] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_, etc., pp. 102, 103.

[32] _Ibid._ p. 73.

[33] _Vains Efforts des Discernans_, pp. 39, 40.

[34] _Lettres de M. Poncet_, Let. VII. p. 129.

[35] Montgeron, Tom. II. _Idee de l'Etat_