essentially distinguished, he polluted his Arguments against Intolerance, with the grossest Buffoonries on Christianity.
There is no Doubt, but that the current Reasonings of the Times had brought him to a Habit of Belief, that all This was harmless Pastime. To this Purpose he seems to speak himself. "'Tis certain, that in Matters of Learning and Philosophy, the Practice of pulling down is pleasanter, and affords more Entertainment, than that of building and setting up.—In the literate warring World, the springing of Mines, the blowing up of Towers, Bastions, and Ramparts of Philosophy, with Systems, Hypotheses, Opinions, and Doctrines into the Air, is a Spectacle of all other the most naturally rejoicing.[1]"
These intemperate Sallies of Gaiety may serve as a Comment on the Passage already cited from Cato's Letters. They are a clear and concurrent Indication of the
- ↑ Miscell. iii. Chap. 1.
