Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/244

 But tho’ he had, as we have aid, formed his Morals on the Platonic Model, yet he perfectly agreed with the Opinion of Aritotle, in conidering that great Man rather in the Quality of a Philoopher or a Speculatit, than as a Legilator. This Sentiment he carried a great way; indeed, o 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 leat Attention to his Conduct, I cannot help thinking, it was his real Opinion, as it will perfectly reconcile ome Contradictions which might otherwie appear in his Character.

This Gentleman and Mr. Thwackum carce ever met without a Diputation; for their Tenets were, indeed, diametrically oppoite 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 ame Manner as Deformity of Body is. Thwackum, on the contrary, maintained that the human Mind, ince 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 Dicoures on Morality never to