him. He told him that The inftruction of young Men wou'd prove an Obstacle to his own ftudies, and that he never had the thoughts of embracing fuch a Profeffion. But this was a meer pretence, and he does plainly enough discover his inward thoughts by the following words. „Befides (fays he to the ,,Doetor) I confider that you don't tell me. ,,within what bounds that liberty of Philofo,,phizing must be confined, that I may not „publickly disturb the established Religion. Cogito deinde me nefcire quibus limitibus libertas illa Philofophandi intercludi debeat, ne videar publice Stabilitam Religionem perturbare velle. See his Pofthumous Works. pag. 563 Epist. 54.

His Writings, and his Opinions.

s for his Works, there are fome, which

are afcribed to him, but it is not certain

that he is the Author of 'em: Some are loft

or not to be found, others are Printed and exposed to every Body's view.

Monfieur Bayle tells us in his Historical and Critical Dictionary, that Spinosa writ an Apology in Spanifh for his leaving the Synagogue; but that it was never Printed. He adds, that Spinofa inferted several things in it, which were found afterwards in his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus: But I have not been able to hear any thing concerning that Apology; tho in my enquiries about it I have confulted fome Perfons, who were familiarly acquainted with him, and who are alive ftill.

He publifhed in the year 1664. Descartes's Principles of Philofophy Geometrically demonftrated: Renati Defcartes principiorum Philofophæ pars prima & fecunda more Geometrico demonftratæ; which were foon followed by his Metaphyfical Meditations, Cogitata Metaphyfica: And had he gone no farther, he might have preserved to this day, the deferyed Reputation of a Wife and Learned Philosopher. In the year 1665 there came out a little

Book in Twelves entituled, Lucii Antiftii Conftantis de Jure Ecclefiafticorum. Alethopoli apud Caium Valerium pennatum. The Author of that Book endeavours to prove that the Spiritual and Political Right, which the Clergy afcribe to themselves, and which is afcribed to them by others, does not belong to them in the leaft; that Clergy-men abufe it in a Profane manner, and that all their Authority depends upon that of the Magiftrates or Soveraigns, who are in the place of God, in the Cities and Commonwealths wherein the Clergy have established themfelves: And therefore, that the Ecclefiafticks ought not to take upon themselves to teach their own Religion, but that which the Magiftrates order 'em to Preach. All that Doctrine is built upon the Principles, which Hobbes made ufe of in his Leviathan.

Monfieur Bayle tells us, that the Style Principles and Defign of Antiftius's Book were like that of Spinofa, which is entituled,

Tractatus Theologico-Politicus; but this does not prove that Spinofa was Author of it. Tho' the first Book came out just at the same time that Spinofa began to write his; and tho' the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus was publifhed foon after; yet it is not a proof neither, that the one was the fore-runner of the other. It may very well be, that two Men will undertake to write and advance the fame impious things; and tho' their Writings fhou'd come out much about the fame time, it cou'd not be inferred from thence, that they were written by one and the fame Author. Spinofa himself being ask'd by a Perfon of great Confideration, whether he was the Author of the firft Treatife, denied it pofitively; I have it from very good Hands. The Latin of thofe two Books, the Style, and the Expreffions are not fo like neither, as 'tis pretended: The former expreffes himself with a profound refpect when he fpeaks of God; he calls him often Deum ter

optimum Maximum. But I find no fuch Expreffions in any part of the Writings of Spinofa.

Several Learned Men have affured me, that the impious Book Printed in 1666 in Quarto, and entituled, The Holy Scripture explained by Philofophy: Philofophia Sacræ Scripturæ interpres, and the abovementioned Treatife were both written by one and the fame Author, viz. L. M. and tho the thing feems to me very likely, yet I leave it to the judgment of those who may be better informed.

It was in the year 1670 that Spinofa publifhed his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. He who tranflated it into Dutch, thought fit to entitle it, The judicious and political Divine; De Regtzenninge Theologant, of Godgeleerde Staatkunde. Spinofa does plainly fay, that he is the Author of it in his 19th Letter, directed to Mr Oldenburgh: He defires him in that fame Letter, to fend him the Objections,