tary on the Psalms, and yielded him no small assistance.

The use of Hebrew to divines was well understood by Bishop Bull, who did not content himself with a slight and superficial knowledge of it; and judged it so necessary in divinity, that it was usual with him to recommend the study of it to the candidates for orders, as a foundation for their future theological performWithout this knowledged in Mr. Horne, we should never have seen his Commentary upon the Psalms.

ances.

When a student hath once persuaded himself that he sees truth in the principles of Mr. Hutchinson, a great revolution succeeds in his ideas of the natural world and its economy. Qualities in matter, with a vacuum for them to act in, are no longer venerable; and the authority of Newton's name, which goes with them, loses some of its influence. Nor is this in the present case so much to be wondered at: for Mr. Hutchinson had conceived an opinion, which possessed his mind very strongly, that Sir I. Newton and Dr. Clarke had formed a design, by introducing certain speculations founded on their new mode of philosophizing, to undermine and overthrow the theology of the

Scripture,

Scripture, and to bring in the Heathen Jupiter or Stoical anima mundi into the place of the true God, whom we Christians believe and worship. This will seem less extravagant, when it is known, that Mr. Boyle had also expressed his suspicions, many years before, that Heathenism was about to rise again out of some new speculations, and reputedly grand discoveries, in Natural Philosophy. Yet I am not willing to believe, that the eminent persons above-mentioned had actually formed any such design. What advantage unbelievers have, since their time, taken of their speculations in divinity and philosophy, and of the high repute which has attended them, and of the exclusive honours given to mathematical learning and mathematical reasoning, is another question; and it calls for a serious examination at this time, when the moral world is in great disorder, from causes not well understood.

However these things may be, the prejudice so strongly infused by Mr. Hutchinson against an evil design in Clarke and Newton, took possession of Mr. Horne's mind at the age of nine

teen;

* This remarkable passage from Mr. Boyle is quoted in The Scholar Armed, lately published for the Rivingtons, vol. ii. p. 282.

teen; and was farther confirmed by reports which he had heard of a private good understanding betwixt them and the Sceptics of the day, such as Collins, Toland, Tindal, &c. more than the world generally knew of. It is an undoubted fact, that there was an attempt to introduce Atheism, or Materialism, which is the same thing, here in England, toward the beginning of this century; of which the Pantheisticon of Janus Junius Eoganesius, a technical name for John Toland, is a sufficient proof: and Hutchinson, who knew all the parties concerned, and the designs going forward, dropped such hints in his Treatise on Power Essential and Mechanical *, as gave a serious alarm to many persons well disposed. But our young scholar, viewing the whole matter at first on the ridiculous side, and considering it not only as a dangerous attempt upon religion, but a palpable offence against truth and reason, drew a parallel between the Heathen doctrines in the Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, and the Newtonian Philosophy; which he published, but without his name, in the year 1751; all the particulars of which parallel I shall not undertake to justify. I see

See p. 243, &c. of the old edition; beginning with the account of Woodward's conduct.

I see its faulty flights and wanderings, from a want of more mature judgment and experience. It provoked several remarks, some in print, and some in manuscript; of which remarks the judgment was not greater, and the levity not less. The question was in reality too deep for those who attempted to fathom it at that time. Mr. Horne soon saw the impropriety of the style and manner, which as a young man he had assumed for merriment in that little piece: these were by no means agreeable to the constitution of his mind and temper. He therefore observed a very different manner afterwards; and, as soon as he had taken time to bethink himself, he resumed and reconsidered the subject; publishing his sentiments in 1753, (the after that in which he had taken his de

year

gree of M. A.) in a mild and serious pamphlet, which he called A fair, candid, and impartial State of the Case between Sir I. Newton and Mr. Hutchinson: allowing to Sir Isaac the great merit of having settled laws and rules in Natural Philosophy; but at the same time claiming for Mr. Hutchinson the discovery of the two physiological causes, by which, under the power of the Creator, the natural world is moved and directed. The piece certainly is,

what it calls itself, fair, candid, and impartial; and the merits of the cause are very judiciously stated between the two parties: in consequence of which, a reader will distinguish, that Newton may be of sovereign skill in measuring forces as a Mathematician; and yet, that Hutchinson may be right in assigning causes, as a Physiologist. It would carry me out too far, if I were to shew by what arguments and evidence Mr. Horne has supported this distinction. For these I must refer to the pamphlet itself, which, having become very scarce*, hath been lately reprinted with some other of his works and I will venture to say thus much in its behalf, that, whatever becomes of the argument, the manner in which it is handled shews M. Horne, who, when he wrote it, was only in his twentythird year, to have been a very extraordinary young man.

New studies and new principles never fail to bring a man into new company; all mankind being naturally disposed to associate with those who agree best with themselves.

Of these his

new

*This Pamphlet, together with another entitled An Apology for certain Gentlemen in the University of Oxford, being reprinted, may be had of the Booksellers by whom the Life is sold.