
Legislator. This Sentiment he carried a great way; indeed, so far, as to regard
all Virtue as Matter of Theory only. This, it is true, he never affirmed, as I
have heard, to any one; and yet upon the least Attention to his Conduct, I
cannot help thinking, it was his real Opinion, as it will perfectly reconcile
some Contradictions which might otherwise appear in his Character.
    This Gentleman and Mr. Thwackum scarce ever met without a Disputation; for
their Tenets were, indeed, diametrically opposite to each other. Square held
human Nature to be the Perfection of all Virtue, and that Vice was a Deviation
from our Nature in the same Manner as Deformity of Body is. Thwackum, on the
contrary, maintained that the human Mind, since the Fall, was nothing but a Sink
of Iniquity, till purified and redeemed by Grace. In one Point only they agreed,
which was, in all their Discourses on Morality never to mention the Word
Goodness. The favourite Phrase of the former, was the natural Beauty of Virtue;
that of the latter, was the divine Power of Grace. The former measured all
Actions by the unalterable Rule of Right, and the eternal Fitness of Things; the
latter decided all Matters by Authority; but, in doing this, he always used the
Scriptures and their Commentators, as the Lawyer doth his Coke upon Lyttleton,
where the Comment is of equal Authority with the Text.
    After this short Introduction, the Reader will be pleased to remember, that
the Parson had concluded his Speech with a triumphant Question, to which he had
apprehended no Answer; viz. Can any Honour exist independent of Religion?
    To this Square answered, that it was impossible to discourse philosophically
concerning Words, till their Meaning was first established; that there were
scarce any two Words of a more vague and uncertain Signification, than the two
he had mentioned: For that there were almost as many different Opinions
concerning Honour, as concerning Religion. »But,« says he, »if by Honour you
mean the true natural Beauty of Virtue, I will maintain it may exist independent
of any Religion whatever. Nay (added he) you yourself will allow it may exist
independent of all but one; so will a Mahometan, a Jew, and all the Maintainers
of all the different Sects in the World.«
    Thwackum replied, This was arguing with the usual Malice of all the Enemies
to the true Church. He said, he doubted not but that all the Infidels and
Hereticks in the World would, if they could, confine Honour to their
