The Analogy of Religion to the Constitution and Course of Nature. Butler Joseph

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       Joseph Butler

      The Analogy of Religion to the Constitution and Course of Nature

      To which are added two brief dissertations: I. On personal identity. II. On the nature of virtue

      Published by Good Press, 2019

       [email protected]

      EAN 4057664590343

Table of Contents

       Editor’s Introduction

       Editor’s Preface.

       Conspectus of the Author’s Introduction.

       I. What is probable evidence?

       II. The use and application of probabilities .

       III. The force of this use of Analogy.

       IV. General scope of the book.

       Conspectus of the Analogy.

       PART I.

       PART II.

       Advertisement prefixed to the First Edition.

       INTRODUCTION.

       THE ANALOGY OF RELIGION.

       PART I. Natural Religion.

       CHAPTER I. A FUTURE LIFE. [27]

       CHAPTER II. THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD BY REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS.

       CHAPTER III. [59] THE MORAL GOVERNMENT OF GOD.

       CHAPTER IV. PROBATION, AS IMPLYING TRIAL, DIFFICULTIES, AND DANGER. [84]

       CHAPTER V. PROBATION, AS INTENDED FOR MORAL DISCIPLINE AND IMPROVEMENT.

       CHAPTER VI. THE OPINION OF NECESSITY, CONSIDERED AS INFLUENCING PRACTICE.

       CHAPTER VII. THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD, CONSIDERED AS A SCHEME OR CONSTITUTION, IMPERFECTLY COMPREHENDED.

       CONCLUSION.

       PART II. Revealed Religion.

       CHAPTER I. THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. [137]

       CHAPTER II. SUPPOSED PRESUMPTION AGAINST A REVELATION CONSIDERED AS MIRACULOUS.

       CHAPTER III. OUR INCAPACITY OF JUDGING, WHAT WERE TO BE EXPECTED IN A REVELATION; AND THE CREDIBILITY, FROM ANALOGY, THAT IT MUST CONTAIN THINGS LIABLE TO OBJECTIONS.

       CHAPTER IV. CHRISTIANITY, CONSIDERED AS A SCHEME OR CONSTITUTION, IMPERFECTLY COMPREHENDED.

       CHAPTER V. THE PARTICULAR SYSTEM OF CHRISTIANITY; THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEDIATOR, AND THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD BY HIM.

       CHAPTER VI. THE WANT OF UNIVERSALITY IN REVELATION; AND THE SUPPOSED DEFICIENCY IN THE PROOF OF IT.

       CHAPTER VII. THE PARTICULAR EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTIANITY.

       CHAPTER VIII. OBJECTIONS AGAINST ARGUING FROM THE ANALOGY OF NATURE, TO RELIGION.

       CONCLUSION.

       DISSERTATIONS.

       Advertisement.

       DISSERTATION I. Personal Identity.

       DISSERTATION II. The Nature of Virtue.

       INDEX TO PART I.

       INDEX TO PART II.

Editor’s Introduction

       Table of Contents

      Joseph Butler was born at Wantage, England, May 18th, 1692, the youngest of eight children. The biographies of that day were few and meagre; and in few cases is this so much to be regretted as in Butler’s. It would have been both interesting and profitable to trace the development and occupations of one of the mightiest of human minds. But no cotemporary gathered up the incidents of his life, and now all efforts to elicit them have been without success.

      His father was a prosperous dry-goods merchant, who, at the time of his son’s birth, had retired from business with a competency, and resided in a suburban mansion called “The Priory,” still in existence.

      Being a non-conformist, he educated Joseph at a “dissenting” academy at Gloucester, under Samuel Jones, a gentleman of great ability, and a skilful instructor, who raised up some of the greatest men of their day.[1]

      It was while a member of this academy, and about the age of twenty-one, that Butler disclosed