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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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26 LIFE OF TOLAND.rules <strong>of</strong> etymology and common sense),one thatfears nei<strong>the</strong>r God nor ilevil. To such pitifullengths will <strong>the</strong> rancour <strong>of</strong> party-spirit drive men,when <strong>the</strong>y are determined to calumniate with, orwithout, reason.In <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> 1701, he published TheArt <strong>of</strong> Goveriwig hy Parties, which he dedicatedto King William <strong>the</strong> 3d ; and, about <strong>the</strong> sametime, published a pamphlet, in quarto, entitled*Propositionsfor uniting <strong>the</strong> two East India Companies,In March following, <strong>the</strong> lower and upper house<strong>of</strong> convocation, with <strong>the</strong> concurrence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bishops,resolved to proceed against Mr. <strong>Toland's</strong>Christianity not Mysterious, and his Amyntor,with all possible rigour.After passing some resolutionsagainst <strong>the</strong>se books, <strong>the</strong>y found tlieycould not proceed without a licence from <strong>the</strong>king. Ra<strong>the</strong>r than solicit this boon, <strong>the</strong>y dropped<strong>the</strong>ir proceedings against Mr. Toland. Canany circumstance speak more strongly in <strong>the</strong> vindication<strong>of</strong> Mr. Toland? Can any thing shew tlieinnocence <strong>of</strong> our author, in a clearer })oint <strong>of</strong> view,than that <strong>the</strong> whole united Englisli hierarchy,durst not solicit a licence from <strong>the</strong> king to prosecutehim, because <strong>the</strong>y were sure it would be refused?This circumstance affords more than apresumption, that Mr. Tolancls principal crimes,in <strong>the</strong> eyes <strong>of</strong> his enemies, were his predilection forpresbyterianism, and attachment to King William.

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