It is said (as I have before observ'd) of my Lord Chancellor _Clarendon_, that "he had too much _Levity_ in his _Wit_[105], and that he did not always observe the _Decorum_ of his Post." Which implies not only his Approbation of _Drollery_ in the most _grave_ Business, but also his great Knowledge of Mankind, by applying to them in that _Way_; which he knew from Experience, and especially from the common _drolling_ [106] Conversation in the Court of King _Charles_ the Second, would recommend him to the World much more than an _impartial Administration of Justice_; which is less felt, less understood, and less taken notice of and applauded, than a _Piece_ of _Wit_; which is generally suppos'd to imply in it a great deal of Knowledge, and a Capacity fit for any thing. Mr. _Whiston_[107], a famous Person among us, sets up for great _Gravity_, and proposes a Scheme of _Gravity_ for the Direction of those who write about Religion: He is for allowing _Unbelievers_, nay for having them "invited by Authority to produce all the real or original Evidence they think they have discover'd against any Parts of the _Bible_; against any Parts of the _Jewish_ and Christian Religions, in order to their being fully weigh'd and consider'd by all learned Men; provided at the same time, that the whole be done _gravely_, and _seriously_, without all _Levity_, _Banter_, and _Ridicule_." And yet this Man, having a handle given him by Bishop _Robinson_'s Letter to the _Clergy_ of his _Diocess_ about _New Doxologies borrow'd from Old Hereticks_, takes the advantage of the Bishop's (supposed) Ignorance, Dulness, Stupidity, and Contradiction to himself, and writes and prints, like a _Tom Brown_ or _Swift_, a most _bantering_ and _drolling_ Letter, under the sneering Title of a _Letter of Thanks to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of_ London, _for his late Letter_, &c. whom, one would think, he should not only have spar'd, but have applauded for his _profound Gravity_, and carrying on the Cause of Religion in a very remarkable manner, with the most _consummate Solemnity_. But so strong was the Temptation, so naturally productive of Mirth was the Bishop's _Cause_, and his grave Management thereof, as that he could not help laughing at the Bishop, by himself; and so was led on mechanically to write in that Humour, and to publish what he wrote, and afterwards to defend his drole _Manner_ [108] of attacking the Bishop, against those who took _offence_ at that _Manner_ of writing.