SPINOZA (Benedict de), the son of a Portuguese Jew settled at Amsterdam, where he was born in 1633. He commenced philosopher early in life; publicly embraced Christianity, for which the Jews attempted to assassinate him; and in the end made a great noise in the world by his atheistical principles and writings. He was probably the first who reduced Atheism to a system; but in other respects his doctrine was the same with that of several philosophers both ancient and modern. He retired into the country that he might not be interrupted in his speculations, and was sometimes three months without going out of his lodgings. This retired life did not hinder his name from spreading. The free-thinkers came to him from all parts. The palatine count offered him the place of professor of philosophy at Heidelberg; but he refused it. He died at the Hague in 1677, aged about 44 years. He is said to have been honest, obliging, and very regular in his morals; which we need not be more surprised at than to see people live an irregular life tho' fully persuaded of the truths of the Gospel.