The Analogy of ReligionI express myself with caution, lest I should be mistaken to vilify reason; which is indeed the only faculty we have wherewith to judge concerning anything.-from The Analogy of ReligionElegantly written and forceful in its arguments, this rebuttal to pre-Darwinistic Deism, first published in England in 1736, is a compelling defense of Christianity bursting with humanity and compassion, from the perspective of the era's limited understanding of biology, geology, cosmology, and other advanced sciences we take for granted today. This annotated edition, prepared in 1875 by an American theologian, is a must-read for anyone hoping to understand the foundations of the war contemporary fundamentalist Christians have taken to the modern scientific community. It serves as a reminder that, as Butler notes: "Language is, in its very nature, inadequate, ambiguous, liable to infinite abuse, even from negligence; and so liable to it from design, that every man can deceive and betray by it."British theologian JOSEPH BUTLER (1692-1752) was educated at Oxford University and appointed bishop of Dunham in 1750, a position he held until his death.American educator and theologian Joseph Cummings (b. 1817) was educated at Wesleyan University, where he later served as the institution's president, from 1857 to 1875; in 1881 he was appointed president of Northwestern University. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 59
Page 30
... 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 ...
... 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 ...
Page 38
... proved that there is an intelligent author of nature , and natural governor of the world . For as there is no presumption against this prior to the proof of it , so it has been often proved , with accumulated evi- dence , from this ...
... proved that there is an intelligent author of nature , and natural governor of the world . For as there is no presumption against this prior to the proof of it , so it has been often proved , with accumulated evi- dence , from this ...
Page 42
... proved otherwise . It will undeniably show , what too many want to have shown them , that the system of religion , both natural and revealed , considered only as a system , and prior to the proof of it , is not a subject of ridicule ...
... proved otherwise . It will undeniably show , what too many want to have shown them , that the system of religion , both natural and revealed , considered only as a system , and prior to the proof of it , is not a subject of ridicule ...
Page 43
... proved by miracles , ( chap . ii , ) but containing in it many things ap- pearing to us strange , and not to have been expected , ( chap . iii ; ) a dispensation of Providence , which is a scheme or system of things , ( chap . iv ...
... proved by miracles , ( chap . ii , ) but containing in it many things ap- pearing to us strange , and not to have been expected , ( chap . iii ; ) a dispensation of Providence , which is a scheme or system of things , ( chap . iv ...
Page 52
... proved properly proved by experimental observa- by experience . tions . But as these fall in with the suppo- sition of its unity , so they plainly lead us to conclude cer- tainly , that our gross organized bodies , with which we ...
... proved properly proved by experimental observa- by experience . tions . But as these fall in with the suppo- sition of its unity , so they plainly lead us to conclude cer- tainly , that our gross organized bodies , with which we ...
Contents
33 | |
45 | |
69 | |
84 | |
Of a State of ProbatION AS IMPLYING TRIAL DIF | 113 |
Of a State of Probation AS INTENDED FOR MORAL | 124 |
OF THE OPINION OF NECESSITY CONSIDERED AS | 152 |
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD CONSIDERED AS | 171 |
OF OUR INCAPACITY OF JUDGING WHAT WEKE TO | 222 |
OF CHRISTIANITY Considered as a Scheme or Con | 240 |
APPOINTMENT of a Mediator and the Redemp | 249 |
OF THE WANT OF UNIVERSALITY IN REVELATION | 271 |
Of the Particular Evidence for CHRISTIANITY | 292 |
OF THE OBJECTIONS WHICH MAY BE MADE AGAINST | 333 |
DISSERTATIONS | 357 |
INDEX | 377 |
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Common terms and phrases
actions admitted afford analogy of nature answer appear argument arise Author of nature behavior Butler capacities cerning chap character Christ Christianity common concerning consequences consideration considered constitution of nature contrary course of nature course of things creatures credible death degree deist dence difficulties dispensation distributive justice divine doubt eral exer exercise experience external fact faculty folly future God's habits happiness implies instances judge justice kind laws ligion living agent mankind manner matter means ment Messiah mind miracles misery moral government natural government natural religion necessity notion objections observations ourselves particular passion peculiar perception personal identity persons plainly practice present presumption principle proof prophecy proved reason regard relation render respect revelation rewarded and punished rience scheme Scripture seems sense sidered sort spect sumption supposed supposition temporal tendency theism thought tical tion truth ture vice vicious virtue virtuous Wantage whole
Popular passages
Page 262 - Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for. See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
Page 82 - I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me...
Page 38 - Origen* has with singular sagacity observed, that "he who believes the Scripture to have proceeded from him who is the Author of nature, may well expect to find the same sort of difficulties in it as are found in the constitution of nature.
Page 82 - How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Page 18 - There are two ways in which the subject of morals may be treated. One begins from inquiring into the abstract relations of things: the other from a matter of fact, namely, what the particular nature of man is, its several parts, their economy or constitution ; from whence it proceeds to determine what course of life it is, which is correspondent to this whole nature.
Page 82 - Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof: therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Page 262 - For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.
Page 242 - Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent...