ANALOGY OF RELIGION,

NATURAL AND REVEALED,

TO THE

CONSTITUTION AND COURSE OF NATURE.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

TWO BRIEF DISSERTATIONS :

1. ON PERSONAL IDENTITY.-11. ON THE NATURE OF VIRTUE.

BY

JOSEPH BUTLER, D.C.I.

LORD BISHOP OY DURHAM.

AND

DANIEL WILSON, D.D.

BISHOP OF CALCUTTA.

Ejus (Analogiej bec vis est, ut id quod dubium est ad aliquid similo, de quo nou quæritur, referat

ut incerta cortis probel-QUINTIL. L. i. c 6.

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THZ

CHARACTER AND WRITINGS OF BISHOP BUTLER,

BY

SAMUEL HALIFAX, D.D.

LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER

NEW-YORK:
ROBERT CARTER, 58 CANAL-STREET.

1848.

If the reader should meet here with any thing which he had not before attended to, it will not be in the observations upon the constitution and course of nature, these being all obvious; but in the application of them: in which, though there is nothing but what appears to me of some real weight, and therefore of great importance; yet he will observe several things, which will appear to him of very little, if he can think things to be of little importance, which are of any real weight at all, upon such a subject as religion. However, the proper force of the following Treatise lies in the whole general analogy considered together.

It is come, I know not how, to be taken for granted, by many persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject of inquiry; but that it is, now at length, discovered to be fictitious. And accordingly they treat it, as if, in the present age, this were an agreed point among all people of discernment; and nothing remained, but to set it up as a principal subject of mirth and ridicule, as it were by way of reprisals, for its having so long interrupted the pleasures of the world.

On the contrary, thus much, at least, will be here found, not taken for granted, but proved, that any reasonable man, who will thoroughly consider the matter, may be as much assured, as he is of his own being, that it is not, however, so clear a case, that there is nothing in it. There is, I think, strong evidence of its truth; but it is certain no one can, upon principles of reason, be satisfied of the contrary. And the practical consequence to be drawn from this is not attended to by every one who is concerned in it.

May, 1736.

Char, II.-Of the Government of God by Rewards and Punishments ;

and particularly of the latter

83

Char. IV.-Of a State of Probation, as implying Trial, Difficulties,

and Danger

105

.

Caar. V-Of a State of Probation, as intended for moral Disciplin

and Improvement

112

CHAP. VI.-Of the Opinion of Necessity, considered as influencing

Practice.

194

Caap. VII.-Of the Gorernment of God, considered as a Scheme or

Constitution, imperfectly comprebended

148

CHAP. II.--Or the supposed Presumption against a Revelation, consid-

181

Page

Char. III.-Of our incapacity of judging, what were to be expected in

a Revelation ; and the Crcdibility, from Analogy, that it must

contain Things appearing liable to Objections

187

Char. IV.-Of Christianity, considered as a Scheme or Constitution,

imperfectly comprehended

20)

Cuar. V-Of the particular System of Christianity; the Appointment

of a Mediator, and the Redemption of the World by him

208

Ckap. VI.-Of the Want of Universality in Revelation: and of the

supposed Deficiency in the Proof of it

225

Crap. VII.-Of the particular Evidence for Christianity

Chap. VIII.-Of the Objections which may be made against arguing

from the Analogy of Nature to Religion

275

.