RALPH, a very learned divine of the church of England in the 17th century. In January 1657, he was one of the persons nominated by a committee of the parliament to be consulted about the English translation of the bible. In 1678 he published his True Intellectual System of the Universe; a work which met with great opposition. He likewise published a treatise, entitled, Deus justificatus: or, "The divine goodness of God vindicated, against the assertions of absolute and unconditional reprobation." He embraced the mechanical or corpuscular philosophy: but with regard to the Deity, spirits, genii, and ideas, he followed the Platonists. He died at Cambridge in 1688. The editor of the new edition of the Biographia Britannica observes, that it is not easy to meet with a greater storehouse of ancient literature than the "Intellectual System;" and various writers, we believe, have been indebted to it for an appearance of learning which they might not otherwise have been able to maintain. That Dr Cudworth was fanciful in some of his opinions, and that he was too devoted a follower of Plato and the Platonists, will scarcely be denied even by those who are most sensible of his general merit. The reflections that have been cast upon such a man as the author, by bigotted writers, are altogether contemptible. It is the lot of distinguished merit to be thus treated. Lord Shaftesbury, speaking on this subject, has given an honourable testimony to the memory of Dr Cudworth. "You know (says his lordship) the common fate of those who dare to appear fair authors. What was that pious and learned man's case, who wrote the Intellectual System of the Universe! I confess it was pleasant enough to consider, that though the whole world were no less satisfied with his capacity and learning, than with his sincerity in the cause of Deity; yet he was accused of giving the upper hand to the atheists, for having only stated their reasons, and those of their adversaries, fairly together."

It is observed by Dr Birch, that Dr Cudworth's Intellectual System of the Universe has raised him a reputation, to which nothing can add but the publication of his other writings still extant in manuscript. That these writings are very valuable cannot be doubted. We may be assured that they display a great compass of sentiment and a great extent of learning. Nevertheless, from their voluminous quantity, from the abstruseness of the subjects they treat upon, and from the revolutions of literary taste and opinion, it is morally certain that the publication of them would not be successful in the present age. Mr Cudworth's daughter Damaris, who married Sir Francis Matham of Oates in Essex, was a lady of genius and learning: she had a great friendship for Mr Locke, who resided several years at her house at Oates, where he died in 1704.