Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/249

 mention the Word Goodnes. The favourite Phrae of the former, was the natural Beauty of Virtue; that of the latter, was the divine Power of Grace. The former meaured all Actions by the unalterable Rule of Right, and the eternal Fitnes of Things; the latter decided all Matters by Authority; but, in doing this, he always ued 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 hort Introduction, the Reader will be pleaed to remember, that the Paron had concluded his Speech with a triumphant Quetion, to which he had apprehended no Anwer; viz. Can any Honour exit independent on Religion?

To this Square anwered, that it was poible to dicoure philoophically concerning Words, till their Meaning was firt etablihed; that there were carce any two Words of a more vague and incertain Signification, than the two he had mentioned: For that there were almot as many different Opinions concerning Honour, as concerning Religion. ‘But, ays he, if by Honour you mean the true natural Beauty