Mystical Scriptures

    Timeline of Mystic Thought

    A chronological journey through centuries of contemplative wisdom, from ancient oracles to eighteenth-century theosophers—tracing the lineage of texts that shaped the Transcendentalist philosophy.

    Renaissance

    1400–1600 · 7 texts

    1500

    Revelations

    St. Bridget of Sweden
    Medieval Visionary

    1534

    Marcus Antonius

    Marcus Aurelius
    Classical Philosophy

    1584

    Apologia Creaturum and other Emblems

    Jan Moerman (Joannes Moermannus)
    Emblem Literature

    1595

    Rei Rusticæ Auctores Latini Veteres. M. Cato, L. Columella, M

    Rei Rusticae Auctores (Cato, Varro, Columella, Palladius)
    Classical Studies

    1597

    Mirror of Alchymy

    Roger Bacon
    Medieval Philosophy

    1597

    Alcœi, Sapphus, Stesichori, Anacreontis, Simonidis, Alcmonis, &c. Greece et Latine

    Pindar
    Greek Poetry

    1598

    Wits Commonwealth, or Politeuphuia

    Nicholas Ling
    Commonplace Literature

    Early Modern

    1600–1750 · 98 texts

    1600

    Olbia; or, The New Island

    John Sadler
    Utopia

    1602

    Amphitheatrum Sapientiæ Æterne

    Heinrich Khunrath
    Alchemy

    1605

    Aristotelous Organon [in Greek]

    Aristotle
    Classical Philosophy

    1605

    Julii Pacii a Berega in Porphyrii Isagogen et Aristotelis Organum

    Julius Pacius (Giulio Pace)
    Classical Studies

    1605

    Aristotelous Organon [in Greek]

    Julius Pacius (Giulio Pace)
    Classical Studies

    1608

    Alciati Emblemata cum Claudii Minois Commentariis Raphelengii

    Andrea Alciati
    Emblem Literature

    1622

    Theologiae Pacificae Itemque Mysticae

    Pierre Poiret
    Christian Mystic

    1628

    Britain's Remembrancer

    George Wither
    Devotional Poetry

    1631

    Pathomachia, or the Battell of Affections shadowed by a faigned siedge of the Citie Pathopolis

    Anonymous
    Allegory

    1641

    Divine Weekes and Workes, by Josiah Sylvester

    Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas
    Religious Poetry

    1642

    Psychodia [in Greek] Platonica

    Henry More
    Cambridge Platonism

    1642

    Works

    Henry More
    Cambridge Platonism

    1645

    on the Nature of Bodies; and Man's Soule

    Sir Kenelm Digby
    Natural Philosophy

    1648

    La Vie de St. Bernard

    Bernard Lamy
    Christian Devotion

    1650

    The Divine Pymander of Hermes Trismegistus

    Hermes Trismegistus
    Hermeticism

    1650

    Magiæ Adamiæ, or the Antiquitie of Magic

    Thomas Vaughan
    Esoterica

    1650

    Saint's Travel to Canaan

    Robert Wilkinson
    Mysticism

    1654

    Jordani Brunonis Opera

    William Law
    Christian Theosophy

    1654

    on Constancy

    Justus Lipsius
    Neo-Stoicism

    1655

    Occult Philosophy

    Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
    Renaissance Magic

    1656

    Man Before Adam

    Isaac de la Peyrère
    Biblical Criticism

    1658

    Pyrotechny Asserted and Illustrated

    George Starkey
    Alchemy

    1659

    A Spiritual Journey

    Hendrik Janson van Barrefelt
    Christian Mystic

    1660

    Novum Organum

    Francis Bacon
    Natural Philosophy

    1662

    Epistles and Apologies, by John Sparrow

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1662

    Oriatrike, or Physic Refined. 1200 pp

    Jan Baptist van Helmont
    Alchemy

    1663

    Archidoxis

    Paracelsus
    Alchemy

    1663

    Mundorum Explicatio

    John & Samuel Pordage
    Christian Theosophy

    1665

    Discovery of Witchcraft

    Reginald Scot
    Skepticism

    1669

    Immanuel. By S. S

    Samuel Shaw
    Puritan

    1670

    Steps to the Temple

    Richard Crashaw
    Metaphysical Poetry

    1670

    Revelations of Divine Love

    Julian of Norwich
    Medieval Mystic

    1673

    Jehior, or Day of Dawning, Golden Ass, and Catalogue of Mystic Books

    William Cooper
    Esoterica

    1675

    on the Freedome of the Will

    Peter Sterry
    Cambridge Platonism

    1676

    Vanity of the Arts and Sciences

    Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
    Renaissance Magic

    1677

    Pia Desideria

    Herman Hugo
    Emblem Literature

    1677

    Poetae Minores Graeci

    Ralph Winterton
    Classical Literature

    1680

    Divine Fancies

    Francis Quarles
    Emblem Literature

    1680

    Emblems and Hieroglyphics

    Francis Quarles
    Emblem Literature

    1681

    Mythographi Latini

    Thomas Muncker
    Mythology

    1683

    Theologia Mystica

    John & Samuel Pordage
    Christian Theosophy

    1683

    Narrow Path of Divine Truth

    Matthew Weyer
    Mysticism

    1685

    Paradoxical Discourses

    Jan Baptist van Helmont
    Alchemy

    1686

    Introduction to a Devout Life

    St. François de Sales
    Catholic Devotion

    1687

    Averroeana, or Letters from Averroes

    Thomas Tryon
    Natural Health

    1687

    Treatise on Natural Philosophy

    Robert Midgley
    Natural Philosophy

    1689

    Orpheus [in Greek], Greek and Latin

    Orpheus
    Orphic Mysteries

    1690

    Synopsis Antiquitatum Hebraicarum

    Thomas Godwin
    Biblical Studies

    1691

    Theosophick Philosophy Unfolded, by Edward Taylor

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1691

    Naked Gospel

    Arthur Bury
    Protestant Theology

    1691

    on Dreams

    Thomas Tryon
    Natural Health

    1692

    Æsop's Fables and other eminent Mythologists, by L'Estrange

    Sir Roger L'Estrange
    Fable Literature

    1693

    on the Divine Being

    Paulus Buchius
    Natural Philosophy

    1694

    Morals

    Plutarch
    Classical Philosophy

    1694

    Morals

    Seneca
    Classical Philosophy

    1695

    Christian Conferences

    Nicolas Malebranche
    Rationalist Philosophy

    1695

    Search after Truth

    Nicolas Malebranche
    Rationalist Philosophy

    1695

    Philosophia Imaginum

    Claude-François Menestrier
    Emblem Literature

    1695

    Unpremeditated Thoughts of God

    Anonymous (Irena)
    Philadelphian

    1695

    Annus Symbolicus

    August Casimir Redel
    Emblem Literature

    1696

    Light of the World

    Antoinette Bourignon
    Christian Mystic

    1696

    Centrum Naturæ Concentratum, or the Salt of Nature Regenerated

    Ali Puli
    Alchemy

    1697

    Way to Health

    Thomas Tryon
    Natural Health

    1698

    Maxims of the Saints

    François Fénelon
    Interior Prayer

    1699

    Solid Virtue

    Antoinette Bourignon
    Christian Mystic

    1699

    Life and Sentiments

    Antoinette Bourignon
    Christian Mystic

    1699

    Kalendarium Hortense

    John Evelyn
    Natural History

    1700

    Spiritual Voice

    Richard Clarke
    Christian Devotion

    1700

    Transnatural Philosophy

    John Serjeant
    Catholic Philosophy

    1700

    History of Philosophy

    Thomas Stanley
    Classical Studies

    1700

    Letters, Philosophical, Theological, and Moral

    Thomas Tryon
    Natural Health

    1700

    Emblems

    Diego de Saavedra Fajardo
    Emblem Literature

    1701

    Ideal World

    John Norris
    Malebranchian Philosophy

    1703

    Soul's Ascension to God

    Robert Bellarmine
    Catholic Mysticism

    1703

    Light in Darkness

    Antoinette Bourignon
    Christian Mystic

    1703

    Self

    Thomas Tryon
    Natural Health

    1707

    Lives of Pythagoras and Hierocles

    André Dacier
    Classical Studies

    1707

    History of Pietism

    Anton Wilhelm Boehm
    Pietism

    1708

    Hippocrates, by Sprengell

    Hippocrates
    Medicine

    1710

    Banquet, by Dr. Welwood

    Xenophon
    Classical Philosophy

    1713

    Divine Economy

    Pierre Poiret
    Christian Mystic

    1713

    on the Restoration of Man

    Pierre Poiret
    Christian Mystic

    1714

    General Delusion of Christians

    John Lacy
    Prophetic

    1715

    Works. Theosophia Revelata, das ist alle Gottliche Schriften des Jacob Behmens. With Life, &c. , edited by J. G. Gechtels. 1 vol

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1716

    Desiderius, or the Original Pilgrim

    Lawrence Howell
    Christian Allegory

    1719

    Reply to the Bishop of Bangor on the Sacrament

    William Law
    Christian Theosophy

    1721

    Epictetus

    Epictetus
    Classical Philosophy

    1722

    Poesies et Cantiques Spirituels

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1723

    on Love

    John Norris
    Malebranchian Philosophy

    1726

    Lives and Maxims of Ancient Philosophers

    François Fénelon
    Interior Prayer

    1732

    Choice Emblems, Divine and Moral

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1732

    Kurze Eroffnnug und Unweisung der dreyen Pincipien und Welten in Menschen

    Johann Georg Gichtel
    Christian Theosophy

    1739

    On Matrimony

    John Norris
    Malebranchian Philosophy

    1740

    Works, by T. Cooke

    Hesiod
    Greek Poetry

    1741

    Virgin in Eden

    Charles Povey
    Christian Theosophy

    1744

    Amoris Effigies, of Waring

    John Norris
    Malebranchian Philosophy

    1744

    Husbandry

    Thomas Tusser
    Agricultural Poetry

    1748

    Philosophical Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion. Glasgow

    Andrew Michael Ramsay
    Christian Mystic

    Age of Enlightenment

    1750–1850 · 81 texts

    1750

    Dissertation on Pure Love

    François Fénelon
    Interior Prayer

    1750

    Pantheon Ægyptiorum

    Paul Ernst Jablonski
    Egyptology

    1751

    Physical and Theological Originals

    Benjamin Holloway
    Natural Philosophy

    1752

    Apoleipomena [in Greek], or Theological, Mathematical, and Physical Dissertations

    Francis Lee
    Philadelphian

    1758

    Christian Philosopher

    Nicholas Robinson
    Natural Philosophy

    1759

    Imitation of Christ; by Dr. Stanhope

    Thomas à Kempis
    Christian Devotion

    1761

    Sabbath of Rest, &c.

    Thomas Bromley
    Christian Theosophy

    1761

    Universal Restitution

    James Stonehouse
    Universalism

    1764

    The Rev. William Law's edition, containing the Aurora or Morning Red; the Three Principles; Man's Threefold Life; Answer to the Forty Questions concerning the Soul; Signatura Rerum; The Four Complexions; The Mysterium Magnum, &c. &c

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1764

    Paradise Restored

    Thomas Hartley
    Christian Mystic

    1765

    Apology

    Robert Barclay
    Quaker

    1767

    Lettres Chrétiennes, &c

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1767

    Gospel of the Daily-Service

    Richard Clarke
    Christian Devotion

    1769

    Important Truths relating to Spiritual and Practical Christianity

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1770

    Teutonic Philosophy

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1770

    Jesus the Nazarene

    Richard Clarke
    Christian Devotion

    1770

    Dialogues of the Dead

    François Fénelon
    Interior Prayer

    1771

    Hermippus Redivivus

    Johann Heinrich Cohausen
    Esoterica

    1773

    Miscellaneous Poems

    John Byrom
    Christian Mystic

    1775

    Way to Christ

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1777

    Works and Epistles

    Baruch Spinoza
    Rationalist Philosophy

    1780

    Life, by Francis Okely

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1781

    Signatura Rerum, Supersensual Life

    Jakob Böhme
    Christian Theosophy

    1783

    Christ's Victory

    Giles Fletcher
    Religious Poetry

    1783

    Purple Island

    Phineas Fletcher
    Religious Poetry

    1787

    Selections in German

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1787

    Confucii Sinarum Philosophus

    Confucius
    Eastern Philosophy

    1788

    Commentaries on Euclid, by T. Taylor

    Proclus
    Neoplatonism

    1788

    Memoirs of Socrates, by Sarah Fielding

    Xenophon
    Classical Philosophy

    1790

    Les Opuscules Spirituels

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1790

    Account of Madame Guion

    François Fénelon
    Interior Prayer

    1791

    Life

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1798

    Spiritual Guide

    Miguel de Molinos
    Interior Prayer

    1801

    Metaphysics, by T. Taylor

    Aristotle
    Classical Philosophy

    1803

    Isle of Man

    Richard Bernard
    Puritan

    1804

    Translations of Greek Moralists

    William Bridgman
    Classical Studies

    1804

    Works, containing with the fifty-five Dialogues and twelve Epistles the substance of nearly all the existing Greek MSS. Commentaries and scholia on Plato. By Thomas Taylor

    Plato
    Classical Philosophy

    1806

    Life by Brooke

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1806

    Thoughts on Religion

    Blaise Pascal
    Christian Apologetics

    1807

    on the Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle; with Greaves's MS. Notes

    William Bridgman
    Classical Studies

    1811

    Return to Nature

    John Frank Newton
    Natural Health

    1816

    Theology, by T. Taylor

    Proclus
    Neoplatonism

    1816

    Theoretic Arithmetic

    Thomas Taylor
    Neoplatonism

    1817

    Select Works by T. Taylor

    Plotinus
    Neoplatonism

    1818

    Life of Pythagoras. By T. Taylor

    Iamblichus
    Neoplatonism

    1818

    The Desatir; Sacred Writings of the Ancient Persian Prophets. Persian and English

    Mulla Firuz bin Kaus
    Zoroastrianism

    1820

    Commentaries on the Timæus of Plato, by T. Taylor

    Proclus
    Neoplatonism

    1820

    Dissertation on the Philosophy of Aristotle

    Thomas Taylor
    Neoplatonism

    1821

    on the Mysteries. Translated by T. Taylor

    Iamblichus
    Neoplatonism

    1821

    Lives, by Langhorn

    Plutarch
    Classical Philosophy

    1823

    on Abstinence from Animal Food. By T. Taylor

    Porphyry
    Neoplatonism

    1823

    Tracts

    Joanna Southcott
    Visionary

    1823

    Heaven and Hell

    Emanuel Swedenborg
    Visionary

    1823

    Select Works of Porphyry

    Thomas Taylor
    Neoplatonism

    1825

    Fragments by T. Taylor

    Proclus
    Neoplatonism

    1826

    Maxims

    James Pierrepont Greaves
    Christian Theosophy

    1828

    Manuscripts

    James Pierrepont Greaves
    Christian Theosophy

    1829

    Aids to Reflection

    Samuel Taylor Coleridge
    Romanticism

    1830

    Iconology

    William Pinnock
    Iconography

    1831

    Religio Medici and Urn Burial

    Sir Thomas Browne
    English Literature

    1831

    Friend

    Samuel Taylor Coleridge
    Romanticism

    1831

    Orcellus Lucanus, &c

    Thomas Taylor
    Neoplatonism

    1833

    Ten Doubts, &c

    Proclus
    Neoplatonism

    1834

    on Suicide, by T. Taylor

    Plotinus
    Neoplatonism

    1834

    Theory of Pneumatology

    Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling
    Pietism

    1834

    Lives of the Sacred Poets

    Robert Aris Wilmot
    English Literature

    1835

    Record of a School

    Elizabeth Palmer Peabody
    Transcendentalist

    1835

    Poems

    George Herbert
    Metaphysical Poetry

    1836

    Conversations with Children on the Gospels

    Amos Bronson Alcott
    Transcendentalist

    1836

    Wisdom of the Ancients

    Francis Bacon
    Natural Philosophy

    1836

    Isis Revelata

    John Campbell Colquhoun
    Mesmerism

    1836

    Schriften

    Novalis
    Romanticism

    1838

    Anatomy of Melancholy

    Robert Burton
    English Literature

    1838

    Vital Dynamics

    Joseph Henry Green
    Natural Philosophy

    1838

    The Vital Principle or Physiology of Man

    Anonymous
    Natural Philosophy

    1839

    Mythologie der Griechen und Romer

    Tinette Homberg
    Mythology

    1840

    Hexapla; the Greek Text of the New Testament with the Six English Versions in parallel columns

    English Hexapla
    Biblical Studies

    1840

    Parabeln

    Friedrich Adolphus Krummacher
    Christian Devotion

    1841

    Polemics

    Jeanne Guyon
    Interior Prayer

    1841

    Third Dispensation

    Charles Lane
    Transcendentalist

    1842

    Hydropathy

    Richard Tappin Claridge
    Natural Health