u^ THE RUilAL S0GR.ATE5. 



always to his grand principle, that the exlericr of reli-^ 

 gion is only good when reaibn avows it and the heart 

 participates in itt 



We may lee from hence that very found and very 

 vigorous good fenfe properly forms the diftinguifhing 

 quality of our philofopher. Not that he wants imagi- 

 nation, as we may jndge from the illnftrations he em- 

 ploys to give clearnefs to his ideas, (of which my narra- 

 tive reipeiSling him farnifhes more than one example ;) 

 but his imagination is always kept in fubordination to 

 his reafon, and only ferves to furnifh him Vv'ith figures 

 to render his difcoiirfe more impretiive. As to poetic 

 thoughts ; I do not recolleft his having difcovered a 

 iingle one. Neverthelefs he feizes and feels with force, 

 whatever is beautiful in nature or in morals ; and what- 

 ever he feels, he perfe^lly knows how to cxprefs ; but 

 it is more by the animated and heavenly movements 

 of his countenance, than by any choice of words.— 

 PF'hat redly renders him an extraordinary man^ is the 

 pcrfcH and mfeparahle a^^recment of his thoughts^ his 

 ivords^ and his aClions, This agreement I never fiiw 

 £o forcible in any other man ; and it is this which at- 

 taches to him the admiration and good-will of thofe 

 who know him ;and renders him worthy of the feelings 

 which certain' refpec^able perfons have for him, in con- 

 iequeilce of the feeble portrait by which I have made 

 him known. Their elleeni for him I am perfuaded 

 would increnfe, could they h?. eye-witneffes to a life,; 

 the whole of which is in harwovy ivitk itjelf. 



ciEGTIOM 



