a sect of liars. I may, however, affirm, (I hope,
without offence) that they are a sect of jesters or
ralliers. But for my part, whenever I find myself
disposed to mirth and amusement, I shall certainly
chuse my entertainment of a less perplexing and
abstruse nature. A comedy, a novel, or at most
a history, seems a more natural recreation than
such metaphysical subtilties and abstractions.In vain would the sceptic make a distinction be|tween
science and common life, or between one
science and another. The arguments, employed
in all, if just, are of a similar nature, and contain
the same force and evidence. Or if there be any
difference among them, the advantage lies entire|ly
on the side of theology and natural religion.
Many principles of mechanics are founded on very
abstruse reasoning; yet no man, who has any
pretensions to science, even no speculative sceptic,
pretends to entertain the least doubt with regard
to them. The COPERNICAN system contains
the most surprising paradox, and the most contrary
to our natural conceptions, to appearances, and
to our very senses: yet even monks and inquisi|tors
are now constrained to withdraw their oppo|sition
to it. And shall PHILO, a man of so libe|ral
a genius, and extensive knowledge, entertain
any general undistinguished scruples with regard
to the religious hypothesis, which is founded on
the simplest and most obvious arguments, and,
unless it meets with artificial obstacles, has such
easy access and admission into the mind of man?0
|