5

42 LIFE OF TOLAND.
Mr. Tolanci'fs belief, that he tcill never he the same
Toland, after the Tesun-ectioii, is not heterodox,
though his enemies hare not failed to represent it
in this light. The gospel uniformly declares, that
a considerable change will take place in the human
body at the resurrection, and that we shall all be
changed. Mr.
Toland must, therefore, not be considered
as here denying his absolute future identity,
but merely as alluding to that partial change which
the scriptures so clearly point out.
Hitherto I hare almost implicitly followed M.
Mtiizeuz, and, as far as the nature of this abstract
would admit, have adopted his own words, being
w'tAX aware, that by so doing, no body will accuse
me of partiality to Mr. Tolaud. M. Maizeuz was
a Frf nchnian, a friend to popery and arbitrary
power; he did not undertake our author's biography
voluntarily, nor from any motive of respect.
On the contrary, when requested by a
friend of our author s (who was at the same time
the Frenchman's benefactor), to undertake the
task, he positively declined it. A second request,
more peremptory than the first, had the desired
eft'ect. M. Maizeuz has not, in one single instance,
made the slightest allusion to the con)plexion of
tlie times in which Mr. Toland lived, without a
knowledge of which, it is impossible duely to appreciate
either his principles, or the scope of his
writings. He seems, however, to have been under
great obligutions to
his benefactor, and knowing