of integrity; he did not understand
the two controversies, or he willingly misrepresented them. But Wit can
stand its ground against Truth only a little while. The honours due to
Learning have been justly distributed by the decision of posterity.

"The Battle of the Books" is so like the "Combat des Livres," which
the same question concerning the Ancients and Moderns had produced in
France, that the improbability of such a coincidence of thoughts
without communication, is not, in my opinion, balanced by the anonymous
protestation prefixed, in which all knowledge of the French book is
peremptorily disowned.

For some time after, Swift was probably employed in solitary study,
gaining the qualifications requisite for future eminence. How often he
visited England, and with what diligence he attended his parishes, I
know not. It was not till about four years afterwards that he became a
professed author; and then one year (1708) produced "The Sentiments of
a Church of England Man;" the ridicule of Astrology under the name of
"Bickerstaff;" the "Argument against abolishing Christianity;" and the
defence of the "Sacramental Test."

"The Sentiments of a Church of England Man" is written with great
coolness, moderation, ease, and perspicuity. The "Argument against
abolishing Christianity" is a very happy and judicious irony. One
passage in it deserves to be selected:--

"If Christianity were once abolished, how could the free-thinkers, the
strong reasoners, and the men of profound learning, be able to find
another subject so calculated, in all points, whereon to display their
abilities? What wonderful productions of wit should we be deprived of
from those whose genius, by continual practice, hath been wholly turned
upon raillery and invectives against religion, and would therefore never
be able to shine or distinguish themselves upon any other subject! We
are daily complaining of the great decline of wit among us, and would
take away the greatest, perhaps the only topic we have left. Who would
ever have suspected Asgill for a wit, or Toland for a philosopher, if
the inexhaustible stock of Christianity had not been at hand to provide
them with materials? What other subject, through all art or nature,
could have produced Tindal for a profound author, or furnished him with
readers? It is the wise choice of the subject that alone adorns and
distinguishes the writer. For had a hundred such pens as these been
employed on the side o