142 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III. 



comprehending all the focial virtues ; (for that is what I under- 

 ftand, when he fpeaks of juflice as belonging to all the three 

 parts of the mind, and as keeping each of them within its proper 

 province ;) but, of the particular virtue, which we have called Juf- 

 tice concerning the diftribution and exchange of money, honours, 

 and other good things, he has not faid a word. Now, that there is 

 fuch a virtue, feparate and diftind from the other focial virtues, ap- 

 pears net only from the nature of the thing, but from the common 

 language of men ; for, if a man debauches his neighbour's wife, the 

 offence is faid to be of that fpecies of iniquity called Incontinence : 

 If he runs away and deferts his friends in battle, it is called Cowar- 

 dice; If he beats or gives a blow, the wrong done to his neighbour, 

 is faid to proceed from Paffion or intemperance of anger; and if he 

 cheats him of his money, it is called Injuftice: But, on the contrary,. 

 if he deal honeftly by him as to money, and the other things 

 I have mentioned, the virtue or habit of mind, from which this 

 proceeds, is named Juftice. So that it is plain there is a parti- 

 cular Juftice, and Injuftice, other than thofe that are general *. 

 But, lajlly^ not only hath Plato not explained fufficiently this vir- 

 tue of Juftice, but he hath not fo much as named many virtues 

 accurately defined and explained by Ariftotle ; which, though they 

 may be referred to one or other of the cardinal virtues, yet very 

 well deferve a particular explanation : Neither hath Plato diftin- 

 guifhed, from the virtues, feveral qualities of the mind, which have 

 a great afiinity to the virtues, and are generally confounded with 

 them, fuch as Continence and Modefty. Now, thefe, as we (hall 

 lliow, Ariftotle has accurately explained, and diftinguifhed from the 

 virtues which they refemble* 



Ariftotle, if he has excelled in any branch of philofophy, as I 

 think he has excelled in all, has certainly excelled in none more 

 than in Morals; upon which fubjed we have no lefs than three worka 



of 



* NiGom> Lib. 5. Cap. 4, 



