Much Madness is divinest Sense — Puritans

Dickinson did not compromise with Puritanism, but Puritans were the majority in New England. One of the famous stories about Dickinson is, when a teacher asked those who wanted to be a Christian to rise, she was the only one did not rise. The Sense and Madness in line one and three are used differently.

Much Madness is divinest Sense－¹
To a discerning Eye－
Much Sense－the starkest Madness－
'Tis the Majority
In this, as All, prevail－⁵
Assent－and you are sane－
Demur－you're straightway dangerous－
And handled with a Chain－

(F.620/J.435)

[1] Much Madness:: over-enthusiasm. divinest:: the most sacred; related to God the most. Sense:: sensation, feeling.
[2] discerning Eye:: the ability to identify this enthusiasm.
[3] Sense:: any of the various meanings or interpretations of which, according to the principles of patristic and medieval exegesis, a word or passage of Holy Scripture was considered to be susceptible _{(OED 21)}. Much Sense:: over-interpreting the Scriptures.
[4] Madness:: insanity. the Majority:: Puritans in Amherst, where Dickinson lived.
[5] In this, prevail:: in this aspect Puritans prevailed.
[6] Assent, sane:: one is healthy in mind when one agrees with the majority.
[7] Demur:: to object, which Dickinson did.
[8] Chain:: confinement, close to seclusion.

"The fundamental idea of Puritanism," says he, "in all its forms and ramifications, is the supreme authority of Scripture, acting directly on the individual conscience — as opposed to a reliance on the priesthood and the outward ordinances of the Church. ─ The Christian Examiner (1846)

The practice of gathering churches distinct from the worshipping assemblies, which has prevailed in New England from its settlement, was viewed by our Puritan fathers, as most consonant with the principles of Scripture. ─ The American Quarterly Register (1840)