The Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed to the Constitution and Course of Nature to Which Are Added, Two Brief Dissertations Author(s): Butler, Joseph (1692-1752) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: Butler, a respected clergyman and philosopher himself, influ- enced some of the greatest English-speaking thinkers of his time, including David Hume, Thomas Reid, and Adam Smith. The Analogy of Religion is a work of apologetics, directed at a deist audience. Butler hopes to convince the many deist scholars and public figures of his day that returning to Christian orthodoxy is indeed rational. As he proceeds, he provides more and more evidence for orthodoxy over deism, arguing that a personal rather than a detached God is more likely to exist. Butler did not seek to embellish his language with flowery phrases, and his prose is very straightforward. Kathleen O'Bannon CCEL Staff Subjects: Doctrinal theology Apologetics. Evidences of Christianity i Contents Title Page 1 Prefatory Material 3 Advertisement Prefixed to the First Edition. 4 Letter to the Reverend Dr. Thomas Balguy. 5 Preface by the Editor. 7 The Life of Dr. Butler. 32 Introduction 38 The Analogy of Religion 45 Part I. Of Natural Religion. 46 Chapter I. Of a Future Life. 47 Chapter II. Of the Government of God by Rewards and Punishments; and 59 Particularly of the Latter. Chapter III. Of the Moral Government of God. 67 Chapter IV. Of a State of Probation, as Implying Trial, Difficulties, and Danger. 82 Chapter V. Of a State of Probation, as Intended for Moral Discipline and 87 Improvement. Chapter VI. Of the Opinion of Necessity, Considered as Influencing Practice. 102 Chapter VII. Of the Government of God, Considered as a Scheme or 112 Constitution, Imperfectly Comprehended. Conclusion. 119 Part II. Of Revealed Religion. 123 Chapter I. Of the Importance of Christianity. 124 Chapter II. Of the Supposed Presumption Against a Revelation Considered as 135 Miraculous. Chapter III. Of Our Incapacity of Judging, What Were to Be Expected in a 140 Revelation; and the Credibility, from Analogy, That It Must Contain Things Appearing Liable to Objections. ii Chapter IV. Of Christianity, Considered as a Scheme or Contstitution, 150 Imperfectly Comprehended. Chapter V. Of the Particular System of Christianity; the Appointment of a 155 Mediator, and the Redemption of the World by Him. Chapter VI. Of the Want of Universality in Revelation; and of the Supposed 168 Deficiency in the Proof of It. Chapter VII. Of The Particular Evidence for Christianity. 180 Chapter VIII. Of the Objections Which May Be Made Against Arguing from 203 the Analogy of Nature, to Religion. Conclusion. 211 Dissertation I. Of Personal Identity. 217 Dissertation II. Of the Nature of Virtue. 222 Indexes 229 Index of Scripture References 230 Greek Words and Phrases 232 Latin Words and Phrases 233 Index of Pages of the Print Edition 234 iii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/butler/analogy.html. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/3648. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. iv Title Page Title Page THE i ANALOGY OF RELIGION, NATURAL AND REVEALED TO THE CONSTITUTION AND COURSE OF NATURE. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, TWO BRIEF DISSERTATIONS: I. ON PERSONAL IDENTITY.—II. ON THE NATURE OF VIRTUE BY JOSEPH BUTLER, D.C.L LATE LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. Ejus [Analogiæ] hæc vis est, ut id quod dubium est ad aliquid simile, de quo non quæritur, referat ut incerta certis probet.—QUINTIL. L. 1. C. 6. 1 Title Page WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHARACTER AND WRITINGS OF THE AUTHOR, BY SAMUEL HALIFAX, D.D. LATE LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER. NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, No. 530 BROADWAY. ii iiiiv 2 Prefatory Material Prefatory Material Prefatory Material 3 Advertisement Prefixed to the First Edition. Advertisement Prefixed to the First Edition. ADVERTISEMENT PREFIXED TO THE FIRST EDITION. 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. v 4 Letter to the Reverend Dr. Thomas Balguy. Letter to the Reverend Dr. Thomas Balguy. TO THE REVEREND DR THOMAS BALGUY, ARCHDEACON AND PREBENDARY OF WINCHESTER, &c. DEAR SIR, I TRUST you will excuse the liberty I have taken of prefixing your name to the following sheets; the latter part of which, I am confident, will not be thought undeserving of your ap- probation; and of the former part you will commend the intention at least, if not the execu- tion. In vindicating the character of Bishop Butler from the aspersions thrown upon it since his death, I have but discharged a common duty of humanity, which survivors owe to those who have deserved well of mankind by their lives or writings, when they are past the power of appearing in their own defence. And if what I have added, by way of opening the general design of the Works of this great Prelate, be of use in exciting the younger class of Students in our Universities to read, and so to read as to understand, the Two Volumes prepared and published by the Author himself; I flatter myself I shall have done no inconsiderable service to Morality and Religion. Your time and studies have been long successfully devoted to the support of the same great cause: and in what you have lately given to the world, both as an Author and an Editor, you have largely contributed to the defence of our common Chris- tianity, and of what was esteemed by One, who was perfectly competent to judge, its best Establishment, the Church of England. In the present publication I consider myself as a fellow-labourer with you in the same design, and tracing the path you have trod before, but at great distance, and with unequal paces. When, by His Majesty’s goodness, I was raised to that state of eminence in the Church, to which you had been first names, and which on viii account of the infirmity of your health, you had desired to decline; it was honour enough for me on such an occasion to have been thought of next to you: and I know of no better rule by which to govern my conduct, so as not to discredit the Royal Hand which conferred on me so signal and unmerited a favour, than in cases of difficulty to put the question to myself, How you would probably have acted in the same situation. You see, Sir, I still look up to you, as I have been wont, both as my Superior and my Example. That I may long reap the benefit of your advice and friendship; and that such a measure of health and strength may be continued to you, as my enable you to pass the evening of your days with comfort, and enjoy the blessings of the life you love; is the cordial wish of, Dear Sir. Your very affectionate 5 Letter to the Reverend Dr.