cating them from the attacks of such as, without finding fault with the design in general, were satisfied with making remarks on some particulars in the execution.

COUNTRIES WHERE FOUND, EMINENT MEN, AND

WRITERS PRO AND CON.

The controversy set on foot by Bishop Warburton, the learned author of the "Divine Legation of Moses," induced many to study the Hebrew Scriptures, which had been too long neglected; and this led them to the writings of Hutchinson, who, though sometimes visionary in his criticisms, must be allowed to have struck out some lights of admirable utility to the biblical student. Soon after his writings were collected and published, some Oxford divines gave them such attention as made them be called Hutchinsonians, from him; and yet, being zealous lovers of the Church of England, they distinguished themselves by a firm adherence to her constituent principles and doctrines.

The followers of Mr. Hutchinson have suffered much obloquy from their brethren, and have been accounted little better than madmen by the world. Notwithstanding this, they are of all men the most averse from schism: on the contrary, they are perhaps among the best and truest churchmen of these modern times, and are not far behind the most learned in the church. Among them may still be reckoned some eminent and respectable divines, both in England and Scotland; but their numbers seem at present to be on the decrease.

Of those who have been advocates for Mr. Hutchinson's philosophy and divinity, and have thence been ranked in the list of Hutchinsonians, perhaps the most eminent were the following:-Mr. Julius Bate, and Mr. Parkhurst, the lexicographers; Mr. Spearman, author of " Letters on the Septuagint, and Heathen Mythology, &c." Mr. Ramsay, author of "Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion;" Mr. Holloway, author of " Originals," and of " Letter and Spirit;" Mr. Pike, author of " Cosmographia Sacra;" Messrs. Catcott of Bristol, father and son, of whom the former wrote on the Deluge, &c.; Dr. Hodges, provost of Oriel college, Oxford, author of "Elibu" and of "The Christian Plan ;" Mr. Henry Lee, author of " Sophron, or Nature's Characteristics of the Truth" Dr. Paton, fellow of Corpus Christi college, Oxon; Dr. Wetherell, late master of University college, Oxford; Mr. Romaine, of London, whose writings are well known; Dr. Samuel Glasse, one of his Majesty's chaplains in ordinary;

G

Bishop Horne, and his learned friend and biographer, Mr. W. Jones, of Nayland; and Mr. Jones's respectable biographer, William Stevens, Esq.

The first in Scotland who studied Mr. Hutchinson's writings with any degree of attention, was Duncan Forbes, Esq. of Culloden, afterwards Lord President of the Court of Session, who not only honoured them with his approbation, but even took time, from the hurry and bustle of secular employment, to write some curious and elaborate dissertations, to illustrate the author's design*. With others they have met with the same variety of reception as in England. Some have adhered to the current notions, under pretence of veneration for the primitive fathers, whom they supposed these new discoveries seemed to contradict: while others, of perhaps equal acquaintance with antiquity, and no less regard for it, have seen no such danger; but, having impartially examined Mr. Hutchinson's writings, as far as their time and talents enabled them, have been happy to think that they had thereby acquired more just and correct ideas of Christianity, - and could more successfully combat the Arian, Socinian, and Deistical opposers of it, by his use of the Scripture artillery, athan by all the dry metaphysical jargon of the schools.

Among the latter may be mentioned Mr. Riccaltoun, minister of Hobkirk, author of a work in 3 vols. containing Essays on the Doctrines of Revelation, &c." the late venerable historian of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Mr. John Skinner, and his son, the late learned primus of the same * Church, Bishop John Skinner of Aberdeen.

Mr., afterwards Bishop, Horne wrote "A fair, candid, and impartial State of the Case between Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Hutchinson, &c." in 1753; about which time, when Mr. Hutchinson's principles were beginning to prevail in Oxford, a severe attack was made upon them in an anonymous pamphlet, intitled, "A Word to the Hutchinsonians; or Remarks on three Sermons preached before the University of Oxford, by Paten, Wetherall, and Horne;" and Mr. Horne, being personally aimed at as the principal object of the author's animadversions, took up his pen in defence of him

See in particular, in support of the Hutchinsonian scheme, his "Letter to a Bishop," and his "Thoughts concerning Religion, Natural and Revealed." He is allowed to be one of the ablest of all the expositors of the Hutchinsonian theology; and Lord Woodhouselee remarks, that he "was in all respects one of the most eminent men of his time;-that his learning was extensive and profound, reaching even to the oriental languages, and that his piety was 'fervent and habitual.”- -Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Lord Kaimes.

self and his friends, and wrote "An Apology for certain Gentlemen in the University of Oxford aspersed in a late Anonymous Pamphlet," &c. Oxford, 1756.

But it was on the etymological quarter, where the Hutchinsonians seemed most vulnerable, or, where they might at least be annoyed with most appearance of advantage. Even some of Mr. Hutchinson's friends acknowledge, that he laid too great a stress in many instances on the evidence of Hebrew etymology, and admit, that some of his followers carried the matter so far as to adopt a mode of speaking which had a nearer resemblance to cant and jargon, than to sound and sober learning. Hence the controversy between them and Dr. T. Sharp, son of Archbishop Sharp, and Archdeacon of Northumberland, which was begun in 1750, and carried on till the end of 1755. The subjects of it were,-the meaning of the words Elohim and Berith,-the antiquity of the Hebrew language and character,-and the exposition of the word cherubim. These pieces made together three volumes 8vo. Bishop Secker, then Bishop of Oxford, it is said, "read over all Dr. Sharp's papers before they went to the press, and corrected and improved them throughout*."

The writings in opposition to Dr. Sharp were-" Remarks on Dr. Sharp's Pieces on the Words Elohim and Berith," by the Rev. Benjamin Holloway;-" The Evidence of Christianity contained in the Hebrew Words Aleim and Berith, stated and defended," by the Rev. James Moody ;-A Reply to Dr. Sharp's Review and Defence of his Dissertations on the Scripture Meaning of Aleim and Berith," by Julius Bate, A. M.;-A Second Part, by the same author;-and "Strictures upon some Passages in Dr. Sharp's Cherubim," by the author of Elihu.

MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS.

It must be admitted, even by the opponents of this party, that its members, most of whom have been highly respectable, have been of considerable use in reviving attention to the Hebrew language; that the Hutchinsonian Cabbala is much less objectionable than the Rabbinical; and that, so far from being heretics, their very peculiarities may be ranked as at least harmless.

The Life of Archbishop Secker, prefixed to his Sermons, p. 32.

The reader is referred to the preface to the 2d edition of Mr. Jones's Life of Bishop Horne, for a statement of Hutchinsonian principles, more full than that here presented to him; but I presume not more correct, as this was reviewed and corrected in MS. by two distinguished Hutchinsonian divines.

SWEDENBORGIANS.

NAME.

THE Swedenborgians, commonly so called, denote that particular denomination of Christians who admit the testimony of Baron Swedenborg, and direct their lives in agreement with the doctrines taught in the theological writings of that author. Not that they call themselves by that name, or wish it to be applied to them, since they rather choose to be considered as the disciples of JESUS CHRIST, and glory in the name of Christians, in preference to any other title what

soever.

Those of them, indeed, who have separated from other communions, and formed one of their own, take the name of the New Jerusalem Church, in allusion to the New Jerusalem, spoken of in the Revelation of St. John; and the name of Temple is that which they usually give to their places of public worship*.

FOUNDER AND HIS WRITINGS.

The author from whom this denomination of Christians derive their name, was the son of Jasper Swedberg, Bishop of Scara, in West Gothia, Sweden, a man of considerable learning and celebrity in his time t.

The son, who took the name of Swedenborg, was born at Stockholm in 1688. He enjoyed early the advantages of a liberal education, and being naturally endowed with uncommon talents for the acquirement of learning, his progress in the sciences was rapid and extensive; and he soon distinguished himself by several publications in the Latin language, which gave proof of equal genius and erudition. It may reasonably be supposed, that, under the care of his pious and reverend father, our author's religious instruction was not unattended to. This, indeed, appears plain, from the general tenor of his life and writings, which are marked, we are told, "with strong and lively characters of a mind deeply impressed

They separated from the Old Church in London about 1789, and formed themselves into a distinct religious society, which is the first instance of the kind in the history of the New Church. o o

+ See above, vol. i. p. 384.

with a sense of the Divine Being, and of all the relative duties thence resulting."

Perhaps the most authentic account of his general character and publications may be found in the Funeral Oration, or Eulogy, delivered after his decease*, by M. Sandel, Superintendent of the Mines, Knight of the Order of the Polar Star, &c. in the Great Hall of the House of Nobles, in the presence of the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, of which Baron Swedenborg was a distinguished member. The oration was published by the Abbé Pernetti, and is annexed to his French translation of Swedenborg's "Treatise on Heaven and Hellt." From this oration, it appears that the Baron, at a very early age, became an object of royal attention and favour, being admitted to frequent converse with Charles XII., then king of Sweden, and appointed by him to the office of Assessor of the Metallic College; a place of great public trust, and of considerable emolument. He was also ennobled in the year 1719, by Queen Ulrica Eleanora, and named Swedenborg, from which time he took his seat with the nobles of the Equestrian order, in the triennial Assembly of the States. He was made a fellow, by invitation of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, and had a like honour conferred on him by foreign Societies. He lived in much esteem with the bishops and nobles of his own country; and his acquaintance was sought after by some distinguished characters in various parts of Europe, with many of whom he continued to correspond till his death.

To the above account of M. Sandel, respecting the character of Baron Swedenborg, may be added, the testimony of the late Rev. T. Hartley, Rector of Winwick, Northampton

Baron Swedenborg died in London in 1772, and was buried in the Swedish Church, Princes Square. He was a man of talent, probity, and erudition; but, either from vanity or insanity, or the united influence of both, professed to be the subject of new and most important revelations. He died in an obscure lodging, but was comforted, in his last illness, he said, by the society of angels, as before.

He seems to have had many theological eccentricities; but perhaps the most remarkable circumstance respecting him is this correspondence which he asserted he maintained with the world of spirits;-a correspondence which few or no writers, before or since his time, ever pretended to, if we except the Arabian Prophet. Of course, his new information is chiefly respecting scenes that no one can confirm or contradict from experience.

+ An English translation of it was published in London, under the title of "An Eulogium delivered on the Death of Baron Swedenborg, with a Sketch of his Life; to which is added, a Variety of Anecdotes and Observations, Letters," &c. by Mr. R. Hindmarsh, now Minister of the New Jerusalem Temple, Salford, Manchester.