tends to focus on the intellect and has its biblical origin in St. John.^20 However, the
history of mysticism is far too complex and fluid to neatly fit into these tidy
categories and it is important to remember the elasticity of these approaches to
mysticism. John of the Cross, though strongly apophatic, had a deep appreciation for
the more kataphatic Bernard of Clairvaux and his sermons on the Song of Songs.
Further, while Pseudo-Dionysius is frequently mentioned as the founder of the
apophatic school he also emphasized the kataphatic.^21 Harvey Egan reminds readers
that, “any genuine Christian mysticism must contain apophatic as well as kataphatic
elements.”^22 Therefore, while the Puritans displayed a strong affinity for Bernard that
does not negate the reality of apophatic expressions of mysticism as Jean Williams’
research has demonstrated.^23
Among the most recent efforts towards a revised understanding of mysticism
is the research of Bernard McGinn. While his magisterial study has not yet reached
the seventeenth-century he provides an extremely valuable heuristic model for the
study of Puritan mysticism.^24 Indeed McGinn offers great encouragement to
Protestants and no doubt many others, as he summarizes two forms of mysticism.
The first involves “some form of union of identity with God through purely
contemplative practice, especially one that bypasses the mediatorial role of Christ and
the place of scripture and the community.” McGinn quickly critiques this aberrant
(^20) Turner, “Mysticism. (^) ” s.v., 460 (^) - 461. cf. Oberman, “Meaning of Mysticism,” 81-5.
Steven Ozment makes the same distinction but acknowledges it is a “gross contrast.”
Age of Reform 21 , 115-6.
22 McGinn, Foundations of Mysticism, 159.^
23 Harvey Egan, “Christian Apophatic and Kataphatic Mysticisms,” 405.^
24 Williams, “Puritan Enjoyment of God,” 267-70, 393.^
McGinn is preparing a six volume series entitled The Presence of God: A History
of Western Christian Mysticismfifteenth-century, have been released.. To date the first four volumes, reaching the mid