IIUTCHINSON, JoHN, author of A Mysti cal and Cabalistic Interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures,' was born at Spennithorne, Yorkshire, in 7674, and died Aug. 2ff, 7737. He received a good education, and became, at the age of nine teen, steward to Mr. Bathurst, and afterwards to the Duke of Somerset. Fond of the study of mineralogy and botany, he devoted his leisure to the cultivation of these branches of learning. A valuable collection of fossils made by him, was be queathed to the university of Cambridge. He is best known as the originator of the peculiar system of Biblical interpretation usually denominated, from its author, Hutchinsonianism, which he ex pounded at large in a series of philosophico-theolo gical works, published from time to time. He maintained that the Hebrew language was formed by God, and is, therefore, perfect ; that the Scrip ' tures were not writ ad caption humanum, but I philosophically, beyond imitation ;' that Moses was inspired to reveal a complete system of phi losophy as well as theology, beyond which the human mind can never get ; that Newton's princi ples are antiscriptural and false, and Newton him self no philosopher ; that each Hebrew word em bodies a great theological or philosophical truth, but that the points are a corrupt invention of the Rabbis,' and the Arabic language a forgery ;' that the whole of Christianity is contained in the O. T., so that the Jews understood it as well as we ; and that a knowledge of Hebrew is essential to a right understanding of the N. T., because the latter is written in the language of the Gentiles. These and kindred principles parade all his writ ings.
His works were published in twelve vols. Svo, in 1749, the principal of which are :—/I-loses' Prix cipia, part i. ; An Essay towards a Natural History of the Bible—Moses' Principia, part ii. The Prin cipia embodies the fundamental principles of the inspired' philosophy in opposition to those of Sir I. Newton. Moses' Sine Principio, or the mean ing of the names and titles of God,' with an intro duction to shew the nature of the fall, of Paradise, and of the body and soul.' .4 New Account of the Comfirsion of Tongues, etc., with the names ana' attributes of the Trinity of the Gentiles, treating of the origin of idolatry' and the loss of philosophy in the Gentile world.' Glory or Gravity, etc., in which the hieroglyphical import of the Cherubim is exhibited. The Covenant in the Cherubim, etc., setting forth the various ways, by Cherubim, Urim, etc., in which 'it pleased God to reveal himself and the Covenant of grace.' The Religion of Satern, or Antichrist delineated ; the Use of Reason re coverea' in the data of Christianity (parts i. and ii.), which are shewn to be the only subjects reason can exercise itself upon.' Hutchinson had many followers, although he formed no sect. His style is loose, rambling, and obscure ; his dogmatism unbounded ; and his lan guage towards opponents often rude and offensive. He was learned, but not truly learned.' His works are worth examining, although the task of reading them is difficult. There is an autobio graphic. sketch of him in the 5th vol. of his col lected works.—I. J.